Civic Tech Field Guide
Donate

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1848137/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Software Reuse through Open Source Software in the Public Sector

A qualitative survey on Policy and Practice, by Johan Linåker, Sachiko Muto

Active
Since 2024
Denmark
Open source: Yes

This report delves into how Public Sector Organizations (PSOs) and the public sector at large facilitate software reuse, specifically through Open Source Software (OSS) as an instrument. The report is commissioned by the Danish Agency for Digital Government (Digitaliseringsstyrelsen1) and Local Government Denmark (KL2), which provide input on how Danish PSOs can specifically improve at reaping benefits by reusing existing software and creating value by developing software in a way that can be reused. A qualitative survey is conducted on a sample of 15 countries considered mature in their digital practices, as indicated through a set of digital maturity indicators. These countries are surveyed in terms of government policies, rationales, support mechanisms, means of promotion, and success stories related to software reuse. The surveyed countries exhibit diverse policies, emphasizing interoperability, digital sovereignty, transparency, and cost efficiency. Economic arguments, interoperability, and transparency are prominent goals, while digital sovereignty varies. Security concerns are discussed, acknowledging both risks and benefits of OSS. The report identifies emerging support structures, including Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs), crucial for institutional capacity. Success stories highlight the transformation to sustainable governance enabled through the use of neutral proxy organizations acting as stewards for public sector OSS projects. Recommendations are provided that focus on fostering software reuse through OSS adoption, aiming to guide policy- and decisionmakers at national, regional, and local government levels. The report contributes valuable insights for countries, like Denmark, seeking to leverage software reuse through OSS in their digital transformations.

Resources

Project type
Document
Founded
2024
Language(s)
English
Added
2025-06-26
Last modified
2026-07-12T16:45:15.000Z

Additional details

Number of integrations
0
Geographic focus
Denmark (Danmark) 🇩🇰, Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) 🇪🇪, Finland (Suomi) 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Iceland (Ísland) 🇮🇸, Japan (Nihon or Nippon) 🇯🇵, Luxembourg (Luxembourg, Letzebuerg) 🇱🇺, Ireland (Éire) 🇮🇪, Malta 🇲🇹, Netherlands (Nederland, Holland) 🇳🇱, New Zealand 🇳🇿, Spain (España) 🇪🇸, South Korea (Republic of) (Hanguk or Namhan) 🇰🇷, Sweden (Sverige) 🇸🇪, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
Geographic focus — country
Denmark (Danmark) 🇩🇰, Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) 🇪🇪, Finland (Suomi) 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Iceland (Ísland) 🇮🇸, Japan (Nihon or Nippon) 🇯🇵, "Luxembourg (Luxembourg, Letzebuerg) 🇱🇺", Ireland (Éire) 🇮🇪, Malta 🇲🇹, "Netherlands (Nederland, Holland) 🇳🇱", New Zealand 🇳🇿, Spain (España) 🇪🇸, South Korea (Republic of) (Hanguk or Namhan) 🇰🇷, Sweden (Sverige) 🇸🇪, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 🇬🇧

More in Govtech

CitizenFirst Learning and Training courses

Individual modules Citizen-Centred Service Design Becoming Citizen-Centric Public Service Delivery Fundamentals Listening to and Understanding Citizens Continuous Service Improvement Becoming an Inclusive Leader Building Service Culture Effective Service Delivery Management

Toronto
trainings

Nominate a Rising Civic AI Leader (Aspen Digital)

Aspen Digital and the Aspen Policy Academy are launching a new program for Rising Civic AI Leaders to educate newly hired state and local government employees in charge of managing the adoption and implementation of AI-driven tools.

Aspen Institute, Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
2025

Future of Government Awards

The Future of Government Awards champions practitioners, teams and leaders who are transforming people’s lives by applying digital solutions and leveraging technology to reform the public sector for those it serves.

Seattle, WA, United States of America
Amazon