Dear Wikibase and Wikidata Communities,

As mentioned in our latest announcements about upcoming strategic changes, we decided to pour our energy into ecosystem-related activities such as federation and data governance. As you might know, our Linked Open Data Strategy https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/LinkedOpenData/Strategy2021/Wikibase is built on the idea that our products are capable of building synergies as well as growing sustainably.

With this research project, we hope to get a more nuanced understanding of which projects are perceived to belong into which product category. We aim to synthesize and map how people currently use the three LOD products, what their desired use cases are, and where the boundaries between these platforms may need clarification or additional support.

This process is part of a broader strategy to ensure our hosting infrastructure remains sustainable and mission-aligned.

A key outcome will be a clearer understanding of:

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What kinds of projects are best suited for each LOD product

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Where overlap, duplication, or ambiguity exists

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How we can make more mission-aligned, predictable decisions on growth and hosting

Process Design

You will be invited to participate in an asynchronous card sort exercise where you will be asked to sort imagined projects into four categories:

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1 - Wikibase Cloud

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2 - Wikidata

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3 - Suite or other ways of Wikibase hosting -

4 - Wikibase is not a suitable software for this use case

Participants will be asked to explain their thought process aloud so that we can also ensure that we’re considering the full dimensions of each use case (e.g., technical needs, scope, resource requirements). The results will inform product strategy across WBC, WBS, and WD—while also offering key insights into ambivalent or complex areas that require further discussion.

This approach ensures everyone can participate in their own time, without needing to attend multiple meetings.

We’re offering two ways to participate:

1. Card Sort Research Activity (Primary Method)

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Asynchronous (early- mid-July)

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Approx. 30 minutes

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No technical expertise required

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Focused on sorting and classifying use cases -

Recorded screen and microphone

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Optional: follow-up interview (if you’d like to talk more)

2. Extended Stakeholder Group (Optional Additional Involvement) Includes:

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Asynchronous activity (above) -

Research insights discussion (synchronous, 30-45 minutes, end of July)

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Async policy draft review (end of August)

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Group session (August, 1.5–2 hours) Total time: ~3.5 hours Compensation: 35 EUR (if eligible)

Participation

We aim to recruit at least 30, ideally up to 50 community members across the LOD ecosystem to participate in the research activities, including:

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Wikibase Cloud users -

Self-hosted Wikibase users -

Wikidata users who are invested in the broader Wikibase ecosystem. -

At least 10 marginalized knowledge holders

Join us!

We will send a link to participate in the card-sort within the next week.

If you would like to participate in the Extended Stakeholder Group, please reach out to us via email: annie.kim@wikimedia.de. We will share the opportunities as they come up, likely at the end of July and the end of August, respectively.

Thank you for your continued care and contributions. We're looking forward to exploring this research with you! :)

On behalf of the Linked Open Data Ecosystem, Valerie Wollinger (She/Her) Community Communications Manager Wikibase

Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin Phone: +49 (0)30-577 11 62-0https://wikimedia.de

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