Community as A Core Competency: Microsoft and Open Source

Across Microsoft, applications released with open source access like IronPython, ASP.NET AJAX, SharePoint Learning Kit, and WiX Microsoft are growing in scope and number. In this talk we will share examples of and perspective on the ways Microsoft teams are asking how "going open" can increase opportunity for developer and partner communities.

Bryan Kirschner, Director of Platform Community Strategy, Microsoft Corp. Bryan Kirschner is director of Platform Community Strategy at Microsoft Corp. He is responsible for the direction and management of a global community of practice inside and outside of Microsoft for users and developers of open source software and academic researchers on open source approaches. He is a member of the Open Source Software Lab at Microsoft team and an active blogger on Microsoft and open source on Port25, the lab's web portal (http://port25.technet.com). Kirschner has been a leader in Microsoft's efforts to establish deep cross-domain expertise as a basis for community engagement across open source development methods, licensing terms, and business model choices. He previously worked in strategy and research in Microsoft's Product Support organization and, prior to Microsoft, in public policy analysis. He holds a BA in Philosophy from Yale University.