LGE Execs is all about helping industries and companies grow more efficient. That’s why we’re so excited to serve as the virtual CFO resource for the Open Compute Project Foundation, a global organization dedicated to moving the IT industry toward an “open-source” architecture. We will be helping the Foundation submit its non-profit documentation, create budgets and business plans, and implement ongoing strategies as it continues to grow and evolve.

According to its mission statement, the Open Compute Project Foundation seeks to improve the efficiency of data center design, storage and servers by  “openly sharing ideas, specifications and other intellectual property.” This group, which originated as a small engineering team at Facebook, believes that the compute engine is transitioning from the old server-centric model to one that revolves around the data center. For them, this evolution calls for a move from discreet products to a “plug and play” environment based on open-design systems and standards. In this environment, for instance, a data center could have three different providers of blade servers, and each provider’s products would prove equally compatible. And instead of having to select from among 300 different replacement motherboards to choose from, purchasers could simply pick one of five super-compatible models.

Open Compute is also pushing hard for the sharing of data center knowledge among consumers, contributors and technology suppliers, with everyone pitching in on the process of ongoing improvements and optimization. The Foundation enjoys the support of such heavy hitters as Intel, Facebook, Rackspace and others. These industry leaders are now declaring that their hardware suppliers must comply with Open Compute standards. It’s the future of data centers — and the future looks bright!

Check out Open Compute’s Facebook site for more details about who’s involved — and feel free to ask us about our involvement with it.