The use of the open source development model in other than software industries

During the last couple of years the open source phenomena has got much attention as it has been argued that open source projects can produce better quality technology than traditional R&D. Nevertheless, the open source development model is not only producing software. It also produces the interacting system of knowing, learning and doing, which organizes the community and its relations with other communities. Thus, a number of ingredients of open source development model are not specific to the software industry. The main purpose of this paper is to find out if the characteristics of the open source development model can be implemented in other than software industries. Given that user networks have existed long before open source software and that such communities can be found developing physical products as well, it seems possible that the Bazaar development model can successfully be implemented in other than software industries.