Fourvees Software Factory (FSF)

Fourvees Software Factory (FSF) :

Fourvees has been trying to bring Open Source to the market since its inception. Fourvees considers all Open Source repositories as its Partners in the execution of the projects. We at Fourvees, consider Open Source as a valuable raw material for the development of Software products. Fourvees core business model is based around Open Source and its derivatives. Open Source has been in existence for a long time but it was not utilised by the Enterprises in an effective manner until recently citing commercial support. Thus, we at Fourvees felt the need to support Open Source products in every possible manner giving full credits to their authors. We at Fourvees will just be an enabler to the Enterprise.

Fourvees core business model is called as the Fourvees Software Factory (F-SF) wherein the resources and the raw materials will be taken from the Open Source repositories and convert them into a finished product and support them.

SCM for F-SF:

Since F-SF is using materials(tools,code etc.) from open source repositories an effective Supply Chain Management is required for the proper planning and execution of the projects. According to the F-SF model the two key players are

• Enterprise – Customers

• Community – Open Source Developers - Partners

Enterprise and Community:

These are the two vast areas whose requirements and ideas will not be always in synch. But, if they are
made to be in synch. then a lot of things can be made possible. We at Fourvees are striving for that. When Linas and his team coded the Linux Kernel, they never thought that it may be of such importance to the Enterprise. Thus, it is the Community and the Enterprise that plays a vital role for the F-SF model to succeed. According to this model the requirements of the Enterprise and made satisfied by involving Community.

Customers and Partners:

We at Fourvees tries to meet our customers needs by partnering with Open Source Communities. According to the F-SF model both Partners and Customers are important. Without the Partners we can't meet our Customers needs and without the Customers the Partners efforts will be in vain. Thus this model tries to balance both.

Architecture of F-SF:

The key ingredients of F-SF model are

• Fourvees Open Source Repository maintained by Fourvees for Open Source development and other repositories as well

• Fourvees SCM

• Fourvees Information System

• Open Source Development and Testing Tools

• An Effective Documenting System

• An Effective Process in place

Fourvees Open Source Repository:
An Community owned repository for Open Source development. This repository will be maintained by Fourvees. All projects done by Fourvees for its Customers will be primarily be developed in this repository. It is to be noted that the finished product that reaches the customer need not be the exact copy of the one in the repository. The copy present in the repository will be customized to suit the customers requirements. Fourvees is also interested to share the projects profit with the developers based according to their contribution.

Fourvees SCM & Information System:

An web based tool to effectively monitor and manage the projects done for the customers. This tool is important for the success of the project. It will be used till the delivery of the final product to the customer.

Fourvees's Commitment:

To Customers : To deliver a world class software product and support it
To Partners: To deliver back a quality product to the Community

Fourvees Home Resource Planning

When there is ERP why not HRP (Home Resource Planning). It is the Home that constitutes an Enterprise. Every home is the smallest unit of an Economy. When all homes are properly managed then it is going to reflect that Economy.

What is HRP all about?
It is similar to ERP but in terms of happiness, prosperity and good will.

Why HRP?
Similar to Enterprises, Homes constitutes many resources like people (family), assets(properties, finance, appliances etc.) All are costlier than those in the Enterprise and are very valuable.

An effective information system is required for properly planning and effective management of homes.

Does Home require management?
Yes, Home requires effective management for proper utilization of resources be it the home appliance or the members.

What does a HRP constitute?
* A Home Information System (Family Management, Education, Asset Management)

Open Source and Web 2.0 can bridge this gap.

Fourvees ideas on HRP is unlike Social Networking sites. It is to be an effective system where in family members will be the end users. They will be managing their home assets and home stuffs.... It is not a product but an concept, which is currently vague but can be built upon very effectively. The system should be such that it is not very tech savy, should be used by any ordinary person similar to checking like a mail. The system should be simple and plain on design but very strong in concept wise. There are lot of things that needs to be done on the HRP arena. It should not be a buzz word, but a concept which should make our home management easy.

How many family members know when the warranty on their home appliance is going to expire? Do they really care for that? What is the life of the particular home asset? Is that home asset performing well? Is that asset economic? What importance do family members give to branding (their brand aswell as their assets brand)? How are they managing their brand and reputation? Do I need to invest once again on that asset?

There are a whole lot of such questions to be answered. But how do we answer that. Is there a proof for that answer. Really we don't know.

Metrics for HRP:
Yes, HRP needs to have effective metrics to measure and proove. But HRP metrics is unlike that in ERP. HRP metrics will be interms of happiness/peace (product), prosperity (growth), brand and reputation. The metrics should be devised such a way that it cleary says where the family is heading

ERP & HRP Terminologies
1) Company - Family
2) Employees - Family Members
3) Management - Family Members
4) Raw Materials - Education, Bond, Relationship
5) Process - Sentiment, Duty
6) Product - Happiness & Peace
7) Brand - Reputation/Good will

This is a very vague topic which needs a lot of research.
If ERP can successed then why not HRP?