Scaling Open Source Product Development

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Intro

We're recruiting for the Open Source Product Development (OSPD) Mastermind group - a learn and do group for organizing OSPD in the format of 9 day Design-Build Camps. See this invitation - yes, we're paying - the catch is - we all create the program first. https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/STEAM_Camp_Candidates#Simple_Message

Blog Post

Title: Open Source Product Development Mastermind

We have talked about creating a scalable platform for open source product development since we formulated the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) concept in 2008. That is - we are not only developing the GVCS - but also a generalized method for open source product development. We're developing methods of collaborative design - for a transparent and inclusive economy of abundance. We've been prototyping hundreds of GVCS machines over the last decade, but did little on productization. We watched as the project began to grow on its own (that is a line from my TED Talk, but we plateaued before the final step of viral enterprise creation and replication. At the same time, we developed our Extreme Manufacturing Workshop model for crowd builds. As such, we learned how to build machines - in One Day - or houses in a few days. This has become our main revenue stream since our Shuttleworth Foundation funding dried up by 2014. We have never developed kits or products that we can produce on an ongoing basis - it has been more ad hoc as we kept on learning. We are continuing the Extreme Builds, such as with the CEB Microhouse Build in Belize, and are finally developing kits for sale - starting with the 3D Printer. Along the lines of smaller tools like the 3D Printer, we began to run STEAM Camps - with our first one 2 months ago.

Our next stab at a bootstrapped platform for open source product development is to grow the STEAM Camps. This is relevant directly to teaching basic open source product development methods, while developing some of the GVCS CNC tools and derivative products in the process. The revenue model here involves the participants who pay for the experience - which allows us to continue the events - while contributing to GVCS development.

We found this financial feedback loop worked well enough in the last STEAM Camp that it is worthwhile to scale the STEAM camp effort. The idea behind the STEAM Camps is that the package addresses funding of open source product development, while engaging in such development in the process. We continue evolving the products - both hardware and the curriculum - in successive Camps - until we arrive at economically viable products. If this addresses making a living for all the instructors - who in turn are product developers - and who are also put in a good position to start an o microfactory in their community - then we have scored a win for the open source product development method.

There is another important purpose to the STEAM Camps - building talent for Design Challenges. On September 1, 2010 - we plan to launch a $250k incentive challenge on HeroX.

Links

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