Wikimedia Conference 2016/Program/5

5: WMF strategy and annual plan

How to move forward

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  Katherine Maher presenting WMF strategy and annual plan

What was this session about?

Presenting the strategy and the new annual plan of the Wikimedia Foundation.

What are the next steps to be taken?

• Forwarding the annual plan to the FDC
• Creating a revised version of the annual plan considering community input and FDC recommendations

Who is the person to reach out to?

Generally, Katherine Maher, interim ED

Photos

see the Commons category

Slides

Slides

Recording

Audio recording of this presentation

Description

At the Wikimedia Conference, the WMF will have published its strategy for 2016-18 as well as their annual plan 2016-17. What do these documents mean for the work of the Affiliates. How can Affiliates contribute to the process, now and in the future? Collect feedback on the process as well as on the content of the strategy/annual plan. Optional: Expand to a “live Community review” as within the frame of the APG/FDC process.

Session Format

Listening

Desired Outcome

Affiliates are aware of WMF’s plans for 2016 and 2017 and know how they can contribute and how these plans influence their own work. Points of improvement for the process are defined.

Speaker(s)

Katherine Maher

Summary of the session

Katherine Maher, Interim ED of the Wikimedia Foundation, opened the session. Katherine gave a presentation of the major Wikimedia events during the last year and the strategy and annual plan process. (Slides here) In the end she asked for feedback from participants and affiliates on the strategy and annual plan. Liam Wyatt (FDC member) facilitated the discussion.

For the first time, WMF did an Annual Plan according to the FDC rules. By following the rules, WMF was showing good leadership, Katherine affirmed. However, affiliates have not yet provided formal feedback. Two participants said that they were happy that WMF followed the process and that voluntary feedback has been given to PC&L team.

Things that participants wish to see in the annual plan:

• electing an ombudsperson for WMF staff
• logic models and photos
• Technical Wishlist method and approach used in other departments/teams too
• create a wishlist with projects for volunteer developers

A participant asked about the process of "translating" the three strategic areas to actual programs. Katherine answered that the strategy and annual plan were developed at the same time and the „translation“ was not perfect because of lack of time.

Another participant said that budget and metrics were important in an annual plan but the metrics were hard to see in the annual plan of WMF. Also, the budget was hard to relate to specific programs. Katherine agreed but said that at the moment they couldn’t do a project-based budget although it was a high-priority. They have discussed metrics, Katherine said. It was an important issue, but they had too little time.

A person said that the Movement needed a separate discussion to agree on a common definition of what a „program“ is.

Someone asked about the legal support that WMF was providing. Geoff Brigham said that it was available to all affiliates. For example, they have supported Wikimedia Sweden recently and other chapters in the past.

A person asked about defining “capacity”. Katherine answered that the Community Engagement department was working hard on that. They had to find places where they can add staff.

Katherine closed the session.

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