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SHA R E ! M
A
G
A
Z
I
The eZ Ecosystem Newsletter
N
E
November 2008
Improved Partner Program (p3)
New large media portal on eZ Publish (p4) Norwegian county chooses eZ Publish (p6) True Open Source - the secret (p8) Site of the month (p12)
Profile interview VP Global Services Jostein Knudsen
Crew wanted
(p10)
> Support Consultant
> Developer
> Sales Manager > Global Partner Manager SUBSCRIBE TO SHARE! MAGAZINE
*
ez.no SUBSCRIBE TO SHARE! MAGAZINE
Page 2
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
SHARE! Magazine is a monthly newsletter about the eZ Ecosystem. It features interviews, pictures, articles, reviews and content related to Open Source software, business and development. You can subscribe to this magazine by clicking here.
Content
The true power of Open Source By Aleksander Farstad
Improved partner program (p3)
New large media portal on eZ Publish (p4)
Student portal on open standards and eZ Publish (p6)
eZ believes in true enterprise open source (p8)
Profile interview with VP of Global Services (p11)
Site ot the month (p12)
The Evolution of an Open Source Business Model As an Open Source entrepreneur, I remember those times when the most frequent question I got at IT exhibitions was something along the lines of: “Why are you here? You cannot afford to be here.” When we started eZ back in 1999, we did so with the belief that an Open Source business model could create the most value for the entire ecosystem. Even though we did not have a foolproof plan in mind, we believed in our model. We went on to spend almost 8 years and 10 million USD building this company. Today, eZ is a profitable company that continues to grow, and we are seeing other Open Source companies becoming profitable as well. The true power of Open Source is in the power of open innovation, where a large group of people contribute to make the best software possible. To be profitable, we have to ask ourselves, “What are customers willing to pay for if the software itself is free?” eZ has knowledge and we take responsibility for our software. We can sell knowledge through training, expert consulting, and books; we can sell responsibility through guarantees, support, and maintenance. Based on the same software that you can download for free, eZ Publish Premium includes guarantees, support, and maintenance. It is sold as a subscription service and is the backbone of our business. As long as we continue to add value for our customers, eZ will continue to grow with a solid Open Source business model. Aleksander Farstad CEO eZ Systems ez.no
Page 3
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ improves their Partner Program in light of recent growth Due to growing demand around the eZ Publish Content Management System, eZ’s Professional Partner Network has experienced incredible growth over the past two years. eZ recognizes the important of its Partner Network and is introducing an updated program. Changes include an updated training and certification program for Partners, a clearer distinction between the different Partner levels, and a stronger commitment from Gold Partners around the subscription model.
From 50 to 230 Partners eZ has a clear Partner strategy where all implementation work is done by its official Partners. Such work includes design, integration, and hosting services. As the creator of eZ Publish, eZ’s role is to enable Partners to deliver the best solutions by backing them up with training, certification, expert consulting, and support & maintenance. The demand for eZ Publish among large organizations has contributed significantly to the Partner Network’s recent growth. In 2006, eZ had 50 worldwide Partners. Two years later, almost 230 companies are official eZ Partners. eZ’s presence as a leading software vendor helps customers to choose among qualified Partners. “Enterprise Open Source makes us able to qualify our Partners,” explains Bertrand Maugain, Global Partner Manager at eZ. “Many enterprises choose eZ Publish because it is backed by a trustable entity that can qualify and recommend the most relevant IT companies around the world for their specific needs. This is a key differentiating factor when compared to most other Open Source CMS.”
Training, certification, commitment – an assurance of quality The eZ Partner Program combines Open Source values with commercial benefits. It rewards Partners for their community and commercial activities. The program is open to any IT company able to deliver services around eZ Publish. eZ provides special training and certification services to help new Partners to start with this Enterprise Content Management System. “We are dedicated to bringing new Partners up to speed quickly by certifying them. This is key for eZ to answer the growing demand around our technology,” says Aleksander Farstad, CEO of eZ.
ez.no
Page 4
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
A trained and certified Partner can now reach the second of four Partner levels immediately to become a Silver Partner. To reach the Gold Partner level, companies also commit to delivering all of their projects based on eZ Publish Premium, which ensures that customer websites come with support, maintenance, and guarantees delivered by eZ.
Benefits of being an official eZ Partner Being an official eZ Partner has many benefits, the details of which depend on the company’s Partner level. Below is a brief outline of the Partner benefits: Receive project referrals eZ gets an increaseing number of inquiries every day from organizations who are looking to establish or improve their online presence. Each request is qualified and handed over to the most relevant Partner. Earn discounts and commissions on eZ’s products and services The best Partners get privileges when it comes to accessing our services, enabling them to deliver quicker and better solutions. Visibility Each Partner gets an individual listing on eZ’s website. eZ further promotes their most committed Partners in their press releases, material, events, and presentations. eZ’s updated program is eZ Partner Program 2009. It includes improvements based on Partners’ feedback to suit Partners’ business models even better.
New large media portal on eZ Publish Prisma Presse, the French magazine publisher, has several websites running on eZ Publish, such as Gala.fr and FemmeActuelle.fr. Therefore, when it launched its new womens’ magazine Femmes, eZ Publish was the natural choice for the accompanying website.
ez.no
Page 5
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
In an interview with Bertrand Maugain from eZ, Monique Chayette at Prisma Presse answered a few questions about the purpose of the site of the month winning website Femmes.com, the development process, and site features.
BM: Please tell us a bit more about Femmes.com: what is the goal of this web portal? MC: The website perfectly matches Femmes magazine, fitting and extending the magazine. Femmes was launched in May 2008, and it brings together fashion and culture, along with some wellness themes. On the topic of fashion, Femmes deals with both luxury and clothing products, since many women who are fond of fashion are also interested in exclusive products. On the topic of culture, the editorial team produces relevant articles that match the news from the magazine section “Le Mois” (“This Month”), consisting of articles about movies, plays, music, and exhibitions. Femmes also offers “Le journal des livres”, an 8-page booklet with book samples and reviews, as well as interviews. As for wellness content, Femmes has articles about beauty, travel, and design, taking some innovative approaches. Of course, the website offers interactivity in addition to content related to the magazine. Site visitors can comment on articles and give feedback about the magazine.
ez.no
Page 6
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
BM: How was the Femmes.com project timeline and what was the general approach? MC: When we built the website, we relied on best practices collected during previous projects, as well as all of the features already implemented. The plan was to re-use existing features from our toolbox as much as possible. In fact, the duration of each project phase was significantly shortened for functional specifications, implementation, and testing. In total, we had a team of two people working for two months. BM: Is there any specific functionality in eZ Publish that Femmes.com really needed? MC: Not specifically. We managed to re-use features already developed for other Prisma Presse websites; such features include user registration, newsletters, comments, quizzes, polls, and search engine optimization. We were also able to tap into our web hosting know-how. BM: Do you have a support agreement with eZ? MC: Yes, with an eZ Publish Premium contract. BM: Thank you for your time For more information, please visit: http://www.femmes.com
Norwegian county builds student web portal based on open standards and eZ Publish The county of Møre and Romsdal in Norway has converted its student services ICT (Information and Communications Technology) strategy from an infrastructure-based model to a web-based model. This new model, called UNGweb (“Young Web”), is based on open standards and eZ Publish, and has enriched the student experience and saved the county millions of Norwegian krones.
ez.no
Page 7
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
The main goal was to move all student ICT services to a web platform, offering as many tools via the Internet as possible. This resulted in a very cost-effective structure, empowering students to personalize their own computer environment but also saving schools from having to maintain local servers, expensive file and print solutions, login and user administration, and more. Another goal was to create a central youth portal, stimulating activity and discussion, and with a dedicated login area for junior college students. In this way, services and youth-related information could be made available to all youths in the county.
Please visit our case study section for detailed information on the project.
ez.no
Page 8
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ believes in true Enterprise Open Source for eZ Publish In this article, eZ Systems CEO, Aleksander Farstad gives some inside info to their business model based on true Open Source. We hear more and more about how Open Source is influencing the software industry. Not too long ago, Open Source was perceived as a movement for idealists and hardcore programmers. As an Open Source entrepreneur, I remember those times when the most frequent question I got at IT exhibitions was something along the lines of: “Why are you here? You cannot afford to be here.” Over the past 2-3 years, there has been tremendous change in the software industry. This change is not so much about the quality of Open Source software (which has been very capable for quite some time), but its perception in the market. Today, Open Source means business. The value of Open Source is quite clear for users of Open Source software, since they get more freedom and do not have to worry about software licenses. This has moved the power balance from the provider to the users.
ez.no
Page 9
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
For a software company with employees, rent, and utilities to pay each month it has not always been clear as to how to build a business while giving away what you normally sell. When we started eZ back in 1999, we did so with the belief that an Open Source business model could create the most value for the entire ecosystem. The problem was that there was no formula on how we, the software company, could create a solid business with that model. Even though we did not have a foolproof plan in mind, we believed in our model. We went on to spend almost 8 years and 10 million USD building this company. Today, eZ is a profitable company that continues to grow, and we are seeing other Open Source companies becoming profitable as well. Fundamentally, there are two different types of Open Source business models. The first involves making money from limiting part of the software, where the full functionality is available with a paid license. This is not a true Open Source business model, and is not much different from a traditional license model. It is a bit of an easy route taken by some Open Source vendors, one that I never cared that much for. I call this the “enterprise dilemma”. The true power of Open Source is in the power of open innovation, where a large group of people contribute to make the best software possible. If the “enterprise version” of the software is not freely available, it has less users, inputs, and contributions. This results in less innovation, which in the long term will prevent it from becoming the best software. I want to make the best software. And so eZ chooses the other alternative. The full functionality of the software is Open Source, and is not limited in any way. To be profitable, we have to ask ourselves, “What are customers willing to pay for if the software itself is free?” eZ has knowledge and we take responsibility for our software. We can sell knowledge through training, expert consulting, and books; we can sell responsibility through guarantees, support, and maintenance. Consider an insurance company that makes its margins by being able to manage risk more effectively with larger numbers of customers. As a software company, the more customers we have, the better we are able to more effectively manage, fix, and update the software. For our customers, this reduces their risk and cost, the benefits of which they are willing to pay for. As a result, we have a scalable business. Based on the same software that you can download for free, eZ Publish Premium includes guarantees, support, and maintenance. It is sold as a subscription service and is the backbone of our business. As long as we continue to add value for our customers, eZ will continue to grow with a solid Open Source business model. Aleksander Farstad CEO eZ Systems
ez.no
Page 10
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
Profile interview with eZ’s VP of Global Services An eZ crew member for almost three years, Jostein Knudsen loves being part of the eZ Ecosystem. In this interview, he explains his role as eZ’s VP of Global Services, the value of eZ Publish Premium, the power of the eZ Ecosystem, and more. eZ: How did you end up working at eZ? Jostein: I applied for a job as a customer consultant at eZ when I returned to Norway in early 2006, after I had finished my studies abroad. Two of my friends, who were working for eZ at the time, recommended that I apply. After an initial interview with co-founder and CEO Aleksander Farstad, and then with the Managing Director of eZ Nordic, I was given a developer test. Since I had not developed with eZ Publish before, the test seemed quite challenging at the time. I had to figure out where in eZ Publish to insert the new code, and how all the parts in eZ Publish were working together. However, it went well and I was offered a position at the eZ Nordic office in Skien. eZ: What is your position and what do you normally work on? Jostein: My current position is VP of Global Services at the eZ headquarters in Skien, and I am responsible for the service products we offer. The most well-known service product is eZ Publish Premium, which is a support and maintenance subscription for our flagship product eZ Publish. My day-to-day routines are both strategic and operational. The operational responsibilities include working together with our support consultants at eZ offices around the world, as well as with eZ Partners, eZ Labs, and our Maintenance team. We provide our subscribers with the services they require to enable them to focus on what they do best. The strategic responsibilities include the refinement of service products, and to make sure that we continue to add value to them. Our customers are offered access to tools that automate the maintenance of their sites, including a centralized dashboard overview of their eZ Publish installation. We are continuously enhancing these tools based on feedback from our customers and eZ Partners, to make sure that we always provide an easy and safe way of maintaining and operating an eZ Publish installation.
ez.no
Page 11
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ: What has been your best experience on the job? Jostein: That would be the general feeling of being a part of the eZ Ecosystem. The eZ Ecosystem includes: the eZ crew from all over the world; eZ Partners; and the generous people in the community. We all work together towards a common goal of improving eZ Publish. From my position, I see everyone’s contributions come together on the mailing lists, bug trackers, forum postings, and so on. The eZ Ecosystem produces a solution to just about any conceivable challenge, be it scalability, performance, localization, and so on. This is a very impressive thing to observe and to be a part of, and it happens every day. eZ: What new eZ Publish feature(s) do you like best? Jostein: Of course there are many features I like, so I would just say all additions or enhancements to eZ Publish that make it easier for new users and developers to start using it. eZ: What do you usually do outside of work? Jostein: I enjoy working out and I play soccer as much as possible. Since it is winter (time for indoor sports) I have also started playing floorball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floorball). I spend the weekends catching up with my friends. eZ: Thank you for your time
ez.no
Page 12
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
EST: Site of the Month winner Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice on energy saving. Their advice can help you save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home. Stay tuned for an interviw with EST early next week. For more information please visit: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
ez.no
A
G
A
Z
I
The eZ Ecosystem Newsletter
N
E
November 2008
Improved Partner Program (p3)
New large media portal on eZ Publish (p4) Norwegian county chooses eZ Publish (p6) True Open Source - the secret (p8) Site of the month (p12)
Profile interview VP Global Services Jostein Knudsen
Crew wanted
(p10)
> Support Consultant
> Developer
> Sales Manager > Global Partner Manager SUBSCRIBE TO SHARE! MAGAZINE
*
ez.no SUBSCRIBE TO SHARE! MAGAZINE
Page 2
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
SHARE! Magazine is a monthly newsletter about the eZ Ecosystem. It features interviews, pictures, articles, reviews and content related to Open Source software, business and development. You can subscribe to this magazine by clicking here.
Content
The true power of Open Source By Aleksander Farstad
Improved partner program (p3)
New large media portal on eZ Publish (p4)
Student portal on open standards and eZ Publish (p6)
eZ believes in true enterprise open source (p8)
Profile interview with VP of Global Services (p11)
Site ot the month (p12)
The Evolution of an Open Source Business Model As an Open Source entrepreneur, I remember those times when the most frequent question I got at IT exhibitions was something along the lines of: “Why are you here? You cannot afford to be here.” When we started eZ back in 1999, we did so with the belief that an Open Source business model could create the most value for the entire ecosystem. Even though we did not have a foolproof plan in mind, we believed in our model. We went on to spend almost 8 years and 10 million USD building this company. Today, eZ is a profitable company that continues to grow, and we are seeing other Open Source companies becoming profitable as well. The true power of Open Source is in the power of open innovation, where a large group of people contribute to make the best software possible. To be profitable, we have to ask ourselves, “What are customers willing to pay for if the software itself is free?” eZ has knowledge and we take responsibility for our software. We can sell knowledge through training, expert consulting, and books; we can sell responsibility through guarantees, support, and maintenance. Based on the same software that you can download for free, eZ Publish Premium includes guarantees, support, and maintenance. It is sold as a subscription service and is the backbone of our business. As long as we continue to add value for our customers, eZ will continue to grow with a solid Open Source business model. Aleksander Farstad CEO eZ Systems ez.no
Page 3
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ improves their Partner Program in light of recent growth Due to growing demand around the eZ Publish Content Management System, eZ’s Professional Partner Network has experienced incredible growth over the past two years. eZ recognizes the important of its Partner Network and is introducing an updated program. Changes include an updated training and certification program for Partners, a clearer distinction between the different Partner levels, and a stronger commitment from Gold Partners around the subscription model.
From 50 to 230 Partners eZ has a clear Partner strategy where all implementation work is done by its official Partners. Such work includes design, integration, and hosting services. As the creator of eZ Publish, eZ’s role is to enable Partners to deliver the best solutions by backing them up with training, certification, expert consulting, and support & maintenance. The demand for eZ Publish among large organizations has contributed significantly to the Partner Network’s recent growth. In 2006, eZ had 50 worldwide Partners. Two years later, almost 230 companies are official eZ Partners. eZ’s presence as a leading software vendor helps customers to choose among qualified Partners. “Enterprise Open Source makes us able to qualify our Partners,” explains Bertrand Maugain, Global Partner Manager at eZ. “Many enterprises choose eZ Publish because it is backed by a trustable entity that can qualify and recommend the most relevant IT companies around the world for their specific needs. This is a key differentiating factor when compared to most other Open Source CMS.”
Training, certification, commitment – an assurance of quality The eZ Partner Program combines Open Source values with commercial benefits. It rewards Partners for their community and commercial activities. The program is open to any IT company able to deliver services around eZ Publish. eZ provides special training and certification services to help new Partners to start with this Enterprise Content Management System. “We are dedicated to bringing new Partners up to speed quickly by certifying them. This is key for eZ to answer the growing demand around our technology,” says Aleksander Farstad, CEO of eZ.
ez.no
Page 4
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
A trained and certified Partner can now reach the second of four Partner levels immediately to become a Silver Partner. To reach the Gold Partner level, companies also commit to delivering all of their projects based on eZ Publish Premium, which ensures that customer websites come with support, maintenance, and guarantees delivered by eZ.
Benefits of being an official eZ Partner Being an official eZ Partner has many benefits, the details of which depend on the company’s Partner level. Below is a brief outline of the Partner benefits: Receive project referrals eZ gets an increaseing number of inquiries every day from organizations who are looking to establish or improve their online presence. Each request is qualified and handed over to the most relevant Partner. Earn discounts and commissions on eZ’s products and services The best Partners get privileges when it comes to accessing our services, enabling them to deliver quicker and better solutions. Visibility Each Partner gets an individual listing on eZ’s website. eZ further promotes their most committed Partners in their press releases, material, events, and presentations. eZ’s updated program is eZ Partner Program 2009. It includes improvements based on Partners’ feedback to suit Partners’ business models even better.
New large media portal on eZ Publish Prisma Presse, the French magazine publisher, has several websites running on eZ Publish, such as Gala.fr and FemmeActuelle.fr. Therefore, when it launched its new womens’ magazine Femmes, eZ Publish was the natural choice for the accompanying website.
ez.no
Page 5
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
In an interview with Bertrand Maugain from eZ, Monique Chayette at Prisma Presse answered a few questions about the purpose of the site of the month winning website Femmes.com, the development process, and site features.
BM: Please tell us a bit more about Femmes.com: what is the goal of this web portal? MC: The website perfectly matches Femmes magazine, fitting and extending the magazine. Femmes was launched in May 2008, and it brings together fashion and culture, along with some wellness themes. On the topic of fashion, Femmes deals with both luxury and clothing products, since many women who are fond of fashion are also interested in exclusive products. On the topic of culture, the editorial team produces relevant articles that match the news from the magazine section “Le Mois” (“This Month”), consisting of articles about movies, plays, music, and exhibitions. Femmes also offers “Le journal des livres”, an 8-page booklet with book samples and reviews, as well as interviews. As for wellness content, Femmes has articles about beauty, travel, and design, taking some innovative approaches. Of course, the website offers interactivity in addition to content related to the magazine. Site visitors can comment on articles and give feedback about the magazine.
ez.no
Page 6
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
BM: How was the Femmes.com project timeline and what was the general approach? MC: When we built the website, we relied on best practices collected during previous projects, as well as all of the features already implemented. The plan was to re-use existing features from our toolbox as much as possible. In fact, the duration of each project phase was significantly shortened for functional specifications, implementation, and testing. In total, we had a team of two people working for two months. BM: Is there any specific functionality in eZ Publish that Femmes.com really needed? MC: Not specifically. We managed to re-use features already developed for other Prisma Presse websites; such features include user registration, newsletters, comments, quizzes, polls, and search engine optimization. We were also able to tap into our web hosting know-how. BM: Do you have a support agreement with eZ? MC: Yes, with an eZ Publish Premium contract. BM: Thank you for your time For more information, please visit: http://www.femmes.com
Norwegian county builds student web portal based on open standards and eZ Publish The county of Møre and Romsdal in Norway has converted its student services ICT (Information and Communications Technology) strategy from an infrastructure-based model to a web-based model. This new model, called UNGweb (“Young Web”), is based on open standards and eZ Publish, and has enriched the student experience and saved the county millions of Norwegian krones.
ez.no
Page 7
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
The main goal was to move all student ICT services to a web platform, offering as many tools via the Internet as possible. This resulted in a very cost-effective structure, empowering students to personalize their own computer environment but also saving schools from having to maintain local servers, expensive file and print solutions, login and user administration, and more. Another goal was to create a central youth portal, stimulating activity and discussion, and with a dedicated login area for junior college students. In this way, services and youth-related information could be made available to all youths in the county.
Please visit our case study section for detailed information on the project.
ez.no
Page 8
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ believes in true Enterprise Open Source for eZ Publish In this article, eZ Systems CEO, Aleksander Farstad gives some inside info to their business model based on true Open Source. We hear more and more about how Open Source is influencing the software industry. Not too long ago, Open Source was perceived as a movement for idealists and hardcore programmers. As an Open Source entrepreneur, I remember those times when the most frequent question I got at IT exhibitions was something along the lines of: “Why are you here? You cannot afford to be here.” Over the past 2-3 years, there has been tremendous change in the software industry. This change is not so much about the quality of Open Source software (which has been very capable for quite some time), but its perception in the market. Today, Open Source means business. The value of Open Source is quite clear for users of Open Source software, since they get more freedom and do not have to worry about software licenses. This has moved the power balance from the provider to the users.
ez.no
Page 9
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
For a software company with employees, rent, and utilities to pay each month it has not always been clear as to how to build a business while giving away what you normally sell. When we started eZ back in 1999, we did so with the belief that an Open Source business model could create the most value for the entire ecosystem. The problem was that there was no formula on how we, the software company, could create a solid business with that model. Even though we did not have a foolproof plan in mind, we believed in our model. We went on to spend almost 8 years and 10 million USD building this company. Today, eZ is a profitable company that continues to grow, and we are seeing other Open Source companies becoming profitable as well. Fundamentally, there are two different types of Open Source business models. The first involves making money from limiting part of the software, where the full functionality is available with a paid license. This is not a true Open Source business model, and is not much different from a traditional license model. It is a bit of an easy route taken by some Open Source vendors, one that I never cared that much for. I call this the “enterprise dilemma”. The true power of Open Source is in the power of open innovation, where a large group of people contribute to make the best software possible. If the “enterprise version” of the software is not freely available, it has less users, inputs, and contributions. This results in less innovation, which in the long term will prevent it from becoming the best software. I want to make the best software. And so eZ chooses the other alternative. The full functionality of the software is Open Source, and is not limited in any way. To be profitable, we have to ask ourselves, “What are customers willing to pay for if the software itself is free?” eZ has knowledge and we take responsibility for our software. We can sell knowledge through training, expert consulting, and books; we can sell responsibility through guarantees, support, and maintenance. Consider an insurance company that makes its margins by being able to manage risk more effectively with larger numbers of customers. As a software company, the more customers we have, the better we are able to more effectively manage, fix, and update the software. For our customers, this reduces their risk and cost, the benefits of which they are willing to pay for. As a result, we have a scalable business. Based on the same software that you can download for free, eZ Publish Premium includes guarantees, support, and maintenance. It is sold as a subscription service and is the backbone of our business. As long as we continue to add value for our customers, eZ will continue to grow with a solid Open Source business model. Aleksander Farstad CEO eZ Systems
ez.no
Page 10
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
Profile interview with eZ’s VP of Global Services An eZ crew member for almost three years, Jostein Knudsen loves being part of the eZ Ecosystem. In this interview, he explains his role as eZ’s VP of Global Services, the value of eZ Publish Premium, the power of the eZ Ecosystem, and more. eZ: How did you end up working at eZ? Jostein: I applied for a job as a customer consultant at eZ when I returned to Norway in early 2006, after I had finished my studies abroad. Two of my friends, who were working for eZ at the time, recommended that I apply. After an initial interview with co-founder and CEO Aleksander Farstad, and then with the Managing Director of eZ Nordic, I was given a developer test. Since I had not developed with eZ Publish before, the test seemed quite challenging at the time. I had to figure out where in eZ Publish to insert the new code, and how all the parts in eZ Publish were working together. However, it went well and I was offered a position at the eZ Nordic office in Skien. eZ: What is your position and what do you normally work on? Jostein: My current position is VP of Global Services at the eZ headquarters in Skien, and I am responsible for the service products we offer. The most well-known service product is eZ Publish Premium, which is a support and maintenance subscription for our flagship product eZ Publish. My day-to-day routines are both strategic and operational. The operational responsibilities include working together with our support consultants at eZ offices around the world, as well as with eZ Partners, eZ Labs, and our Maintenance team. We provide our subscribers with the services they require to enable them to focus on what they do best. The strategic responsibilities include the refinement of service products, and to make sure that we continue to add value to them. Our customers are offered access to tools that automate the maintenance of their sites, including a centralized dashboard overview of their eZ Publish installation. We are continuously enhancing these tools based on feedback from our customers and eZ Partners, to make sure that we always provide an easy and safe way of maintaining and operating an eZ Publish installation.
ez.no
Page 11
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
eZ: What has been your best experience on the job? Jostein: That would be the general feeling of being a part of the eZ Ecosystem. The eZ Ecosystem includes: the eZ crew from all over the world; eZ Partners; and the generous people in the community. We all work together towards a common goal of improving eZ Publish. From my position, I see everyone’s contributions come together on the mailing lists, bug trackers, forum postings, and so on. The eZ Ecosystem produces a solution to just about any conceivable challenge, be it scalability, performance, localization, and so on. This is a very impressive thing to observe and to be a part of, and it happens every day. eZ: What new eZ Publish feature(s) do you like best? Jostein: Of course there are many features I like, so I would just say all additions or enhancements to eZ Publish that make it easier for new users and developers to start using it. eZ: What do you usually do outside of work? Jostein: I enjoy working out and I play soccer as much as possible. Since it is winter (time for indoor sports) I have also started playing floorball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floorball). I spend the weekends catching up with my friends. eZ: Thank you for your time
ez.no
Page 12
SHARE! Magazine
November 2008
EST: Site of the Month winner Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice on energy saving. Their advice can help you save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home. Stay tuned for an interviw with EST early next week. For more information please visit: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
ez.no
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