The Evans Group survey respondents also identified flexibility as a key benefit of open systems. That these are linked to the drive for greater business efficiently is shown by the experiences of NASA and Shell. The NASA review identified the Agency's dependence on proprietary technology as a major obstacle to change.
Open systems are best for that purpose.
SEWP has increased the availability of equipment to users, promoted an open computing environment, broken the cycle of reliance on proprietary technology and reduced the high cost of software conversion. In short, NASA's open systems strategy provides an effective future-proof platform to support change and innovation. One of the world's largest business enterprises, the Shell Group of companies has also developed an open systems strategy using The Open Group's standards and methods. A study was carried out to examine ways to achieve closer systems harmonisation without sacrificing performance and functionality. Behind the study was a move to implement integrated multi-disciplinary working.