Open source guilds for small enterprises (#journal)

The open source guild: creating more sustainable enterprise?

The authors developed the open source guild business model, which has the elements of: building a focal micro-business with resources secured through the guild, promoting learning and development through apprenticeship, promoting shared values through a commons of experience and capturing value by protecting key intellectual property. This research was undertaken with two emergent micro-businesses in the North West of England. The open source guild model can be a mechanism for an emergent micro-business to create a community around their values and grow their business without conventional external investment of resources. Further research will be needed to establish the wider applicability of the open source guild model.