So you're suggesting we don't find an ED for the biggest org in the movement because there's a thread on a mailing list about spinning bits of it off?
I think hiring an ED can be done safely. Spinning elements off the WMF is something that has already been done, repeatedly, be it duties (the FDC, ish) or departments (see the WikiEd Foundation). In neither case did senior leadership suddenly find they had nothing to do.
I guarantee that finding three executive directors is not an easier task than finding one, however you split the duties.
On Monday, 18 April 2016, Pine W wiki.pine@gmail.com wrote:
Lisa,
Good to hear. Thanks.
I'm aware that my first question might feel like it's a lot for the Board to digest while it's got so many other urgent issues. However, it seems to me that any ED candidate would want to know if spinoffs or a breakup are under consideration, and that if these are likely or planned then the selection process will need to take theses issues into account when trying to find a candidate with optimal fit. Also impacting the search process is that it might be easier to find two or three EDs for two or three separate, smaller, and more focused orgs than to try to find a single ED who can handle the wide and deep complexity of WMF in its current form. I have faith in Katherine as an interim ED and perhaps even as the ultimate selection, and I think that Katherine's abilities will provide us all some time and breathing room to think through questions about possible spinoffs and/or breakup. So, we can take some time to think carefully about the spinoff/breakup issue before proceeding further with selecting an ED for an organization that is currently very complex and is a significant systemic risk in the Wikimedia ecosystem.
Pine On Apr 17, 2016 18:51, "Lisa Gruwell" <lgruwell@wikimedia.org javascript:;> wrote:
Hi Pine-
I can answer your second question for you. We are moving forward with hiring the CTO, VP of HR, and VP of Community (in that order) during the interim.
Best, Lisa
On Sun, Apr 17, 2016 at 1:52 PM, Pine W <wiki.pine@gmail.com
javascript:;> wrote:
Hi Alice,
Thank you for moving forward with this.
Questions:
- One of the characteristics listed is "Experience in leading an
organization as ED or CEO, very preferably an NGO or F/L/OSS (Free/Libre/Open Source Software) organization, with 250 people or
more."
But recent discussions have included the possibility of spinning off components of WMF and/or a breakup of the WMF organization, partly as a
way
to mitigate the systemic risk from a dysfunctional or underperforming
WMF.
So, should we be looking for an ED with the expectation that he or she
will
manage an organization with 250+ employees, or should we look for
someone
who has experience with spinoffs and/or breakups?
- Will the hiring for execs for HR, Tech, and Community wait until
after
the new ED is selected, or will those recruiting processes happen independent of the ED hiring process?
- For the search steering group. would you consider adding a
representative elected from the affiliates, and a representative
elected
from the community, who are not WMF board members and can therefore be responsive to the affiliate and community constituencies without
potential
conflict with WMF interests?
Thanks! Pine
Pine On Apr 17, 2016 11:37, "Alice Wiegand" <awiegand@wikimedia.org
javascript:;> wrote:
Hi all,
Finding the next Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director is a clear priority for the Board. To address this challenge, the Board has
created
a
steering group tasked with crafting the actual job description,
planning
and conducting the search, and finding ways to include community perspectives. This steering group will be regularly consulting with
the
Board throughout the search process.
Please see the ED transition team page on meta [1] to find more
information
about the steering group, and get the latest updates. We have also
included
three questions on the participation page to help us start forming a
better
understanding of the community’s various opinions and expectations.
[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Executive_Director_Tran...
Alice.
-- Alice Wiegand Board of Trustees Wikimedia Foundation
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