Authors: Johan Linåker, Sachiko Muto
The potential for open source software (OSS) to drive digital transformation in the public sector is increasingly recognized in both academic literature and political endorsements. However, systematic studies that clarify the specific drivers for effective OSS strategies, best-practice benchmarks, and follow-up mechanisms are still lacking. This study addresses this gap by examining the role of OSS in digitally advanced countries.
Drawing on a qualitative survey conducted across 16 countries, selected for their high performance in digital government and administration based on major international digital maturity indexes, we find that while OSS policies are widespread, they often focus narrowly on cost-saving or ideologically motivated goals, such as the principle of “public money, public code.” These policies rarely reflect the broader economic and societal benefits of OSS identified by research, including its role in promoting innovation and resilience. Additionally, while some international digital maturity rankings do include indicators related to OSS, we found limited evidence that these aspects significantly influence policy decisions; rather, the public sector discourse around digital government tends to emphasize open data. This open data focus, while valuable, overlooks OSS’s transformative potential for interoperability, transparency, and digital sovereignty.
Given that governments are often motivated by international rankings, we argue that expanding these indexes to include OSS-specific metrics could drive broader OSS adoption and promote innovation in public digital infrastructures. In addition to offering best-practice recommendations, our research provides an empirical foundation for designing metrics based on effective OSS policies, including guidelines for OSS acquisition, contributions, and the establishment of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs). By capturing the specific mechanisms through which OSS enhances interoperability, transparency, and digital sovereignty, and by systematically tracking these drivers, digital maturity rankings could more accurately reflect OSS’s strategic role. Such an approach would empower the public sector to leverage OSS fully, fostering sustainable, resilient, and competitive digital infrastructures that elevate digital maturity through open source adoption.