Dear Rupert,
in short: we've been using two main reference points. One was the previous year costs (and trying not to choke by exceeding 120% growth by far), the other was size of the entities.
Depending on the feedback from this round, the FDC may decide to change the model of posting the recommendations in the next round. This would, definitely, require working in a different timeframe, which would also help the chapters to be much more responsive about the projects beforehand (especially in this area, we've been occasionally suffering from information lags).
After the first round ends, we are planning to reflect on the process and prepare recommendations for the future, both in terms of the projects' format, discussing it, providing replies, making recommendations, and publishing them.
best,
dariusz
On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 9:01 AM, rupert THURNER rupert.thurner@gmail.comwrote:
i (personally :) ) would like to have more details as well. especially how FDC calculated the amount they found acceptable.
rupert.
On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 7:49 AM, Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevreede@wikimedia.org wrote:
Hey Lodewijk,
So a few points, first of all you have a very subjective view of the
situation and present it as the "general view". You cite a bad precedent and lack of sufficient detail. Lets be clear: this is bad in YOUR view and YOU feel that there should be more detail, that does not mean that this is true. A movement like ours always hungers for more details, and we do always manage to discuss a lot of the details (even if a discussion on one detail does not affect the overall picture). In this case the FDC has decided to give a headlines recommendation because they felt that this was the right level of detail. The chapters who wrote the proposals can indicate if they feel that they have enough information. You are free to indicate that as well, but please don't present it as the general opinion.
And at the same time, if you hunger for more details I do want to refer
you to the plans and the discussion on the talk pages. We have asked a lot of time of FDC members in making these decisions. Coming to a common decision was a thorough process during which a lot opinions had to be discussed (and assuming that there is limited time I would guess that this time is better spend making the deliberations rather than working on detailed reporting). A specific chapter will know the details of their application (as will you when you visit their proposal and talk pages) and can hopefully move forward with the comments received. Its not the FDC's job to make all details of an application and their opinion available to you in a nice summary document because you don't want to read the plans... The decisions do NOT stand on their own and are part of the FDC portal, which provides more transparency than you have ever seen in any funds distribution of this size anywhere in the world I would guess.
And for what its worth: as an observer during the process I think that a
funding decision for a specific chapter did come down to a few major factors, and not many details. These factors are different in some cases, but there are never "10s" of factors...
The FDC might choose to provide more details next time around, but if
they don't that is still their choice, and it depends on the feedback we ALL give during this round.
Jan-Bart
On 15 Nov 2012, at 23:28, Lodewijk lodewijk@effeietsanders.org wrote:
Hi Dariusz,
I do not doubt the seriousness and dedication of the committee. I do
regret
the bad precedent set here (as a movement member) that the committee doesn't specify in sufficient detail the reasons how these major budget decisions have been made. If the 120% played a role, please specify
that.
If there are confidential reasons (which will be sent to the board & the applicant?), state so. Etc.
Some people told me that the other reasons were obvious if I would have read the plans. I strongly disagree that reading the proposals should be necessary to understand the decision of the FDC.
I sincerely hope for improvement in this area. It would be sad if the
FDC
would not be as transparent in its arguments as it could be. If you're unwilling to make this improvement at this point (since all FDC members would probably have to agree) I at least hope you take this as feedback
for
the next round.
Kind regards, Lodewijk
2012/11/15 Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl
hi Lodewijk,
I think it is clear that "not trusting them with the money" was not the case with any of the chapters. We have not been relying just on one technicality of 120%, but also taking into account the size of the organization, the actual project (specifically, if the growth was
justified
either by extraordinary circumstances or by the early stage of development, which we considered more valid than just rapid growth,
which
is often considered as as dangerous as a wind-down), the financial reserves, etc.
In case of budget reductions, we've been very careful to make sure that chapters do not have to close shop, and in the cases where it seemed appropriate, we suggested making an exception and going for Round 2.
When
larger cuts were considered, we always had the previous annual budget
in
mind as a reference point (sometimes pro-rated per month).
best,
dj
On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 9:29 PM, Lodewijk <lodewijk@effeietsanders.org
wrote:
Hi Dariusz,
it would probably be helpful if it were indicated when the 120% cap
was
used as the sole reason to reduce the amount. Could you still add
that to
the arguments? That would make it much more insightful. I was
personally
under the impression the maximum was 150% by the way, but that
information
might have been outdated. Then it is at least clear that a
technicality is
the sole cause for your rejection of part of their budget (and could potentially form ground for the chapter to ask the board to make an exception - it would be quite different if the reasons were because
you
didn't trust them with the money etc).
But for example in the case of Wikimedia France I guess the 120% cap
was
not the reason you only allocated 10% of the amount they requested. I
find
the reasoning in their case quite poor for such a major decision which could potentially mean that people get fired and the organization has
to
scale down significantly. I'm confident that you had very good and in
depth
discussions about this, but this is not reflected in the
recommendation in
their specific case. I guess this might be the case for a few more applications.
I don't want to go to a specific case here, but just want to
illustrate
why I feel the arguments are poorly presented. Since you did go into
such
great discussion, I feel it would be a waste of your efforts if the arguments are so shallow.
I am still hopeful you will change your mind, and add more reasoning
to
the cases.
Kind regards,
Lodewijk
2012/11/15 Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl
hi Lodewijk,
first, this is basically a recommendation for the Board, not the
final
allocation. However, regarding your specific question: We are not
planning
on providing further detailed responses - we have already offered a
great
many details in our overall recommendations in terms of process and methodology.
Per the fact that some organizations "got so much less than they requested": please, keep in mind that there was a suggested 120%
maximum
budget growth capping, and also that WCA membership fees have been
deducted
for everyone (but not other WCA-related costs), as WCA may apply for
FDC
funding directly (or choose a different model, once it is decided,
and the
organization incorporated).
Also, our recommendations make it very clear that smaller entities, which were making significant leaps in maturity tended to get most
of what
they asked for, while entities which are medium to large, staffed and already on a clear growth path, were looked at with even greater
rigor in
terms of sustainable and appropriate plans (also because of the
budget
sizes). Small entities are often going from no/part-time staff to a full-staff position, which can increase the budget (as compared to
the
previous year) significantly, but cannot be avoided. Larger entities
can
grow more harmoniously.
best,
dariusz
On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 8:05 PM, Lodewijk <
lodewijk@effeietsanders.org>wrote:
> Hi, > > From the arguments, I had a hard time to understand why some > organizations got so much less than they requested, and some got
every
> single dollar. I assume more detailed arguments will follow? > > Kind regards, > Lodewijk > > > 2012/11/15 Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevreede@wikimedia.org > >> Hi Everyone >> >> Rather than repeat everything I would like to point you to a blog
post
>> created earlier today. >> >> >>
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/11/15/fdc-process-milestone-sharing-wikimedia...
>> >> I do want to take the opportunity to once again thank all those >> involved in this first round, including all the participating
chapters. As
>> expressed earlier: this is the future of our funds dissemination
and we
>> will refine the process, but this first round has exceeded my
expectations
>> on all levels. Thanks everyone! >> >> Jan-Bart >> (who now goes digging in the attic for some barn stars....) >> >> >> On 15 Nov 2012, at 19:38, Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl >> wrote: >> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl >>> Date: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 7:25 PM >>> Subject: FDC recommendations on funds allocation, Round 1, 2012-13 >>> To: wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>> >>> >>> The inaugural Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC) is pleased to >> announce >>> recommendations [1] on Round 1 of funds allocations for the year >> 2012-13. >>> The WMF Board of Trustees will make a decision on these >> recommendations by >>> December 15, 2012. >>> >>> The FDC received proposals from 12 movement entities for Round 1
for
>> a >>> total requested amount of 10.4 million USD. These proposals were >> from 11 >>> Wikimedia chapters and the Wikimedia Foundation. Three proposals
were
>>> received after the deadline of 1 October had passed, but the FDC >> decided >>> that since it was the first time for the process, the late
proposals
>> would >>> be accepted and discussed. Since the proposal deadline, the FDC
and
>> FDC >>> support staff have spent many hours reviewing and assessing these >> proposals >>> to determine a set of allocations that would best support movement >> goals. >>> This assessment included a 4-day in-person deliberation session in >> San >>> Francisco over the period October 28-31, where the FDC members >> discussed >>> the proposals in depth and determined allocation amounts for each >> applying >>> entity. >>> >>> The FDC recognizes that this is not a perfect process, and that
the
>> process >>> and the outcome will improve over time as we learn more about what >> works in >>> the movement and what drives impact. We invite the community to >> provide >>> overall feedback on these recommendations on the talk page for
these
>>> recommendations [2] and to provide feedback about the FDC process >> on-wiki >>> to the Ombudsperson [3], who will collect this feedback and use it >> in our >>> continuous improvement process. For formal complaints about the >>> recommendations, there is a separate process, outlined below. >>> >>> If any entity has a complaint about the FDC's recommendation, it >> should be >>> submitted by 23:59 UTC on 22 November 2012 in accordance with the >> complaint >>> process outlined in the Framework for the Creation and Initial >> Operation of >>> the FDC [4]: >>> >>> - The complaint should be in the form of a 500-or-fewer word >> summary >>> directed to the two non-voting WMF Board representatives on the
FDC
>>> (Jan-Bart and Patricio) >>> - The complaint should be submitted on-wiki, through the FDC >> portal page >>> designated for this purpose [5] >>> - These board representatives will present the complaint to the
WMF
>>> Board at the same time it considers the FDC recommendation. >>> - Formal complaints can be submitted only by the Board Chair of a >>> funding-seeking entity. >>> - Formal complaints must be filed within seven days of the >> submission of >>> the FDC slate of recommendations to the WMF Board (by end of day >> UTC >>> November 22) >>> - Any planned or approved disbursements to the organization
filing
>> a >>> complaint will be put on hold until the complaint is resolved. >>> - If the WMF Board's consideration of the complaint results in an >>> amendment of the FDC's recommendations (which is expected only in >>> extraordinary circumstances), the WMF Board may choose to release >> extra >>> funds from the WMF reserves to provide additional funds not >> allocated by >>> the FDC's initial recommendation. >>> - Other members of the WMF Board may participate in the >> investigation if >>> approved by the Chair of the WMF Board. >>> >>> >>> >>> on behalf of the FDC >>> >>> Dariusz Jemielniak (Chair) >>> >>> [1] >>> >>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/FDC_recommendations/2012-2013_roun...
>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> [2] >>> >>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:FDC_portal/FDC_recommendations/2012-2013...
>>> >>> >>> >>> [3] >>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/Appeals_regarding_FDC_process
>>> >>> >>> >>> [4] >>> >>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Funds_Dissemination_Committee/Framework_for_t...
>>> >>> >>> >>> [5] >>> >>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/Complaints_regarding_FDC_recommend...
>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> __________________________ >>> dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak >>> profesor zarządzania >>> kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego >>> i centrum badawczego CROW >>> Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego >>> http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
>>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list >>> Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>> Unsubscribe: >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list >> Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >> Unsubscribe:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
>> > >
--
dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak profesor zarządzania kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego i centrum badawczego CROW Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
--
dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak profesor zarządzania kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego i centrum badawczego CROW Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l