The open source software they develop is given away with its source code. This means the primary asset for a company like MontaVista is not the software, but rather the people. The organization of the company should focus on the people. Successfully hiring and retaining the best people is crucial to the overall success of the company. MontaVista should plan to utilize a distributed workforce.
Growth depends on forming partnerships with chip vendors and customers from anywhere in the world.
Linux itself is the product of people from all over the globe. Employees may demand a flexible work environment, perhaps involving working from home. There are also potential benefits to an employer if a distributed workforce requires less investment in costly office space Partners need to be afforded some influence in the organization. This may be a difficult goal to achieve. In today's business environment, a single entity may be both a partner and a competitor.