There is general consensus in both government and businesses around the world that “Openness" is both pivotal and a positive. However, many people debate the meaning, implications and limitations of “Openness”. The definition “Open” is also a potentially critical dynamic in the competitive landscape of the ICT industry. As a result there are various points of views, and conflicting definitions. So how do we come to terms with what is open? How can openness be leveraged to support dynamic, responsive, and cost effective government and business?

Governments must be “open” to their primary clients - citizens and businesses. Equally Business must be open to their customers. Ensuring wider and equitable access to government services and enhanced responsiveness is the objectives of eGovernment. “Open” in this context implies that public administrations allow access to government applications via a choice of platforms based on a variety of technologies which do not impose a single platform, operating system or HW configuration on the general public.

Information systems are essential to permit governments to deal with the complexity, globalization, security, mobility, and fiscal demands and constraints. Government has the right to define the configuration and flexibility of their information systems. ICT software and hardware are now as essential to national infrastructure as rail, road and utility systems.

Those systems should communicate seamlessly with other required systems. They need to be easily reconfigurable. They need to have the flexibility to source technology from a variety of vendors and leverage innovative emerging technology from any source originating under any development model. Enabling this flexibility is at the essence of “Openness”.

Openness is not a political statement, development method, or assessment of competing economic models. Openness is simply a means to an end. It is essential that we do not lose sight of the objective.

The objectives of "Openness"include:

• Ensuring flexibility

• Ensuring interoperability

• Avoiding vendor lock-in

• Avoiding imposing technology decisions on the community

• Driving cost effectiveness

• Ensuring future access to information

• Ensuring a level playing field

• Maximizing freedom of action

• Supporting social inclusion