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Movement roles/Working group meeting 2011-3-24

< Movement roles

( from the etherpad)


Movements Roles Meeting
Berlin, March 24, 2011
Attendees
Asaf, Anirudh, Lodewijk, Bence, Abbas, Delphine, Galileo (Galio), Jon, Alice, Salmaan (Theo), Austin, Bishakha, Arne, Barry, SJ, Joan, Vladimir
Discussion
when and how to address Sue's input. Note: Sue's input to be posted on Meta today. Is there other long-form input we want to solicit?

(SJ - something similar from Jon H.perhaps) We have 45 min, with a very short update/introduction, and then a discussion.

Short presentation for MR introduction-timeslot at Chapters Conference:
Recent discussions with the Board -- limited updates since Frankfurt; but we have had discussions about new models recently.

Brief agenda:

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  1. Process update: (brief; reading Jon's notes)
  2. Work on a skeleton charter - also in small groups?
  3. Timeline from here
  4. Break into small groups shortly (come up with specific suggestions in each tough topic, for items that were left undefined last time) and improve the meta page.
 ---> flow of funds [note it and postpone it for its own discussion]
 ---> new models
 --->  --->  legitimizing and authorizing groups
 ---> accountability, legitimacy, 
 --->  --->  auditing [self- and other]  
 ---> definition of roles, and matrix
 ---> communication, including participation & feedback in this process

PRESENTATION

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Overview

We are a movement-driven group; not part of the Foundation, or paid, or grown out of any single part of the movement (except perhaps people sharing these organizational interests) The work group has grown to 17 people, polled Wikimedians online and in inverviews,[3] and surveyed other global NGO movements that might be considered "peers" [4] In Berlin we will listen to feedback and develop a draft charter and recommendations on roles, responsibilities and accountability. Topics worked on: New organizational models, Accountability and legitimacy, Roles and activities, Communications, and Fundraising and resource allocation*

  • Question raised about whether MR should tackle this?

Process questions: Take a few minutes for questions about process; then make it clear this is not a request for process discussions. Moderated discussion: (45 minutes?) With a focus on three pieces -- avoiding getting too general Closing: The timeline from here, and how can you participate. 

 http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles_project/Participants
 http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles_working_group
 http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles_working_group/Responses_to_initial_questions
 http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles_working_group/Learnings_from_peer_organizations
 http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles_project/New_group_models

2. New models

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Informal Associations 

--> reviewed by a community group; approved according to some simple standadrs for alignment with the movement.  
--> approvals posted  on a wall for a couple weeks, during which anyone can complain;  complaints are handled by a smaller group focused on drama-free  assessment of mission 
--> qualified to get swag (merchandise), can ask WMF for  simple use of marks (for events) and use recommended names (friends of  wm/wp &c).  details about what usage is appropriate should be  published; passive guidelines. There could be hundreds or more of these groups; the community group that  reviews them should grow accordingly like the en:w WikiProject Council

Partner Organizations (Affcom) 

---> registered incorporated bodies, aiming to be non-profits aligned with the movement.
--> reviewed by a partner committee (or a subgroup of an extended chapcom).  with formal standards.
-->  We should focus on messaging and encouragement to let people know that  it is valuable to organize around a type of work, not just a  geographical area.  
--> Examples: a GLAM org.  that might be a valuable example to flesh out and encourage to take shape; non-political
--> give examples of differences between these orgs and chapters: territorial vs thematic approach, general vs particular interest/scope, fundraising; pursuit of external partnerships.
----->   POs should talk to chapters when looking into a government grant for  the government of that chapter.  but pursuit of private foundation  support should not require this.
---> shares most tools with chapters; the difference w/ chapters is functional. (cf. related to how the Wikimedia fundraising activities happen (should not preclude independent fundraising), how relationships with national organizqtions develop)

There would be a small stream of these; it would be as difficult to become a P.O. as a chapter. 


           [ Mission-aligned Groups ]
  Wall
 Discussion                          Affgroup (informal?) + AffViewers
 Mediation
-----------------------------------------------------| F
                 Associations                        | O
                       |                             | R
                  goals/scope                        | M
                /             \                      | A
           Particular         General                | L
       (non-country)        (country)                | I
               |                   |                 | T
 AffCom----------------------------------            | Y
               |                   |                 | of the group
     Partner Orgs           WM Chapters              | increases
                                                     v

Focus on functionality -- when you ahe both a partner and a chapter, make sure that they see one another as peers. it's nice to keep community and chapter and partners in the loop when working on a proejct with shaerd contacts. [cf BD] 

Other forms of recognition
Supporters (Partners? Patrons)
Friends of Wikipedia?
--> a group parallel to Benefactors, for non-financial donors and supporters  (major archive and museum support, for instance)
--> create a page recognizing these groups online

Award-winning groups & individuals
 --> (associations, wikiprojects, &c.)
 --> annual awards, &c.

Other forms fo discussion
Have parallel discussions on meta and internal

3. Accountability and Legitimacy

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You also find the content of this paragraph at Movement roles/Accountability basics.

Why: 

   Trust
   Stewardship of Resources
   Sense of Ownership by the communities
   Co-operation
   Legal Requirement(s)

What 

   Behaving according ro Movement principles
   Knowledge should be free
   Share with al human beings
   No undue influence
   Openness and Diversity
   Volunteer Driven
   Fulfilling roles that have been agreed upon with the movement 
    (e.g.,WMF's role to protect the projects, acting in accordance with trademark agreements)
   Usage of Resources
   Sharing plans, activities and results publicly with the community (different standards depending on the group)
   Relevant legal requirements that apply to the group and the group's jurisdiction

Who 

  <see above for starters>

How

1. Principles for enabling accountability internally to the movement: 

   proactive management of accountability: Group has responsibility to self-report and regulate on its own accountability requirement
   self-regulation: Group sets own standards for accountability subject to broader "to be considered" standards (that are group appropriate)
   public action and reporting as default: Groups should act and report in public as a default, private should be an exception with justification
   reasonable review of a group's status within the movement (where and when required - frequently, never, active, passive) :
   <keep in mind> Minimizing bureaucracy

2/ Principles for enabling accountability externally to the movement: 

   public action and reporting as default: Groups should act and report in public as a default, private should be an exception with justification
   clear description of the group's purpose, activities and contact information

4. Roles Matrix

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SLIDES

Rationale

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If we are going to talk about movement roles, then we need to know what roles exist If we are going to assign roles to entities, then we need to think about which entities exist (or could exist) Premise/basic assumption: Organisational level

Results

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  • a nice and complex matrix
    • We were thorough, and arrived at a fairly comprehensive set of roles
       => Brief mention of the process that produced the matrix (corkboard clouds)
       => We didn't have any real "outliers"—all roles could be aggregated into a comprehensive set
    • It started a good reflection on what the organisational building blocks might be
       => We identified roles that we were not sure belonged at the organisational level
    • Complexity is difficult to render
   =>We began by trying to define each cell as a "yes," a "no," or a "maybe." As we filled out the matrix, it quickly became clear that the intersections of the various roles and organizations were more complex
   => need to pay attention to the circumstances, environment
   => work on an example with the participant?

Where we need help

  • Creating a much more detailed list of "who" (building blocks)?
=>which chapters? (chapter level?), what are groups?, which level of the Foundation or of the chapters (staff, board)?
  • Reponsibility table. Who is ultimately responsible?

We need more data:

Working group session about this?
[working group on making a survey to collect data about roles and responsibilities]
Failed (or not) projects)
Initiative description (one liner)
Role that wasn't clear:
Problems encountered:
Outcome of the project:
The stuff we still want to do
  • The current matrix is not definitive enough; too many roles were shared by almost everyone to some extent or another, we need to make this more definitive
=> In the Wikimedia world, pretty much anyone can do anything. The question is, who/what has the ultimate responsibility? We need answer this question
[ Lunch ]

AFTERNOON

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Roles Matrix:

  • Brief summary
  • Ask people to think of cases in which there was unclarity of roles, and how that played out

New Models:

  • A visual slide with diagram (& link)

Accountability:

  • Brief summary? (with link)
  • Self-assessment & peer-review ideas? (see below)

Ideas for followup by current working groups

  • RM: Extend matrix to new models
  • NM: Further models (for decision-making bodies - community, chapter councils; cf sg commentary)
  • ACC: Self-assessment -- every group should consider self-assessment; defining ways to measure their work, and measuring it periodically
  • ACC: Peer review group -- a group of peers that helps every org in the movement engage in self-assessment, and summarizes/aggregates their self-assessed status

Closing discussion

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It is important for us to be a group that facilitates discussion among the community, and to continue to have side discussions - not to simply reflect the views of a small group. Once we have a draft charter, many people willdiscus details, but perhaps we can do something to invite specific peoplet o join, lokoing for those with some sensitivities: 

- people from brasil, from groups critical of how money is administered
- (reps from each cluster of chapters?  is there arleady sufficient participation there?)
- consider that there's a mix, among most groups (chapters, wmf board members, editing community, staff) of people who think MR is salvation, people who are suspcious it is not useful, and people who don't know about it.

Concerns - if we don't spark discussion and interest from chapters, why go further? And it can be dangerous to allow the schedule to stretch -- recommendations to resopnd to are better than questions to answer.

Ideas for outreach.

  1. posting sue's email on the foundation list
  2. considering revisiting the wikimania deadline. note that w will have another ch meeting in h the day before wm. (conversely, that would be a great day to finalize agreement if there has already been a review discussion in the preceding 1-2 months)
  3. weekly summaries of related work done
  4. rhetorical point - I think we could do X. if you don't accept that, what would you suggest doing to solve this problem?
  5. focus on content rather than process. change q's and approaches.
  6. reach out to specific individuals known to have strong opinions on relevant questions
  7. reach out to chapters and other groups -- http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Movement_roles/groups -- and request a committed liaison who'd undertake to solicit feedback from fellow board/chapter members

Draft Questionnaire - part 1 (multiple choice): https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHFGSEljVlBjUDlOdVZPWGV6TmRkaGc6MQ

Draft Questionnaire - part 2 (open questions): https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFNScGszQWFVRnNWZHNZVE05RnA2UlE6MQ PLEASE COMMENT.

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