Defending the Sports Metaphor: An InnerSource Primer
Channel: InnerSource Commons
Date: 28/03/2024

Defending the Sports Metaphor: An InnerSource Primer - Joe Zang, Fannie Mae

What are the biggest barriers to InnerSource buy-in, adoption, and organizational success?  Closed source development tends to resist the cultural shift required to implement the collaborative model inherent of InnerSource. Specifically, Lack of familiarity and fear of change tend to be among the top challenges reported across industries. Community outreach and education are great ways to defend InnerSource and to move the chains of cultural shift. Using Sports metaphors, while cliché, may be one way to effectively explain the intricacies of InnerSource and drive adoption.
 
This entry level talk will explore the relationship (or lack-thereof) between InnerSource and Sports to humorously show how the analogies might have utility in the world of software development. At the risk of alienating both InnerSource novices and experts alike, the author tries to thread the needle of slam dunking the concept or striking out. Join this lighthearted session to gain a deeper appreciation for the unlikely teammates of InnerSource and sports metaphors and learn why the cliché can be such a surprisingly appealing and effective tool for community development.

Joe's Bio:
Joe is the Lead Associate for InnerSource Community Management at Fannie Mae. My role is to build Open Source policy, stand up a stable InnerSource platform and collaborate with software engineers to create a successful and equitable community for everyone to thrive. He has 15 years of experience in Information Technology and Project Management with a demonstrated history of working in FinTech, Higher Ed, and Entertainment industries.