On Dec 18, 2007 9:52 AM, Birgitte SB birgitte_sb@yahoo.com wrote:
--- Chad innocentkiller@gmail.com wrote:
Allow me to be the first to say "What the hell?" Am I the only one who is absolutely outraged by this? We hear Erik call for transparency and openness, yet he gets hired for a position there was no announcement about? I call BS.
-Chad H.
While "outraged" is rather strong, I am also surprised by the situation considering the previous discussion about the problematic conflict in interest that would arise if a board member were to be hired by WMF immediately after their departure. [1] I suppose the exact nature of Erik's hire shows that such discussions on this mailing rather than being taken to heart as feedback from the community about the spirit of WMF's operations are instead being used as an outline for how to game the community. After all Erik was not hired by *the board* So I suppose all these previously expressed objections just don't apply in this case ;)
Birgitte SB
[1]Emails agreeing that an immediate hire of a former board member could be a problematic conflict of interest and supporting the adoption of some kind of guidelines to guard against this http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031814.html http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031814.html http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031846.html http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031867.html http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031908.html
Sole email disagreeing this kind of hiring would be problematic http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-July/031862.html
Indeed. Thanks for the references, Birgette (although much of that discussion was over whether a former employee could/should become a board member, which is perhaps a slightly different set of issues). As I recall all of that was happening right when Sue was getting started here.
I find the lack of public search less worrying than the complete lack of public discussion over what the position might do and why we might need someone as Deputy Director in the first place. One difference between WMF and other organizations is historically we *have* discussed things like this. I think the community agrees, for instance, that we need a legal director (Mike's current role), and we know why -- there are lots of legal questions that come up every day. The board has made the case eloquently to us over the last couple of years why we need an executive director, and an accountant -- those positions aren't controversial. But a deputy director?
Sue's message was primarily an announcement, with a short bio. I think most of us already know who Erik is, though; know from innumerable projects & six years worth of edits. His election returns would seem to show a good bit of support in the community, as well, so that's all to the good -- I don't doubt that he is a reasonable choice for the position.
But I am more interested in what it is exactly he is supposed to be doing. Getting projects delegated from Sue and orienting the staff is not a very descriptive charge; and no offense to anyone, but I'm pretty sure there are other ways to orient the staff -- I know the thriving and friendly Wikimedia community in SF would be happy to help out, or they could be oriented online like everyone else. So what are these special projects? If Brion is reporting to Erik, then is Erik going to work on technical policy? How do the two open positions, for Head of Partnerships and Head of Development, fit in given that Erik has done a lot of work on both those things (will he be doing those things)? Is Sue unavailable so much that she needs backup? (As a consultant, perhaps yes, but as a full-time CEO?) Given our pretty slim funding this year, hiring another executive isn't the first thing that would occur to me when looking at the budget.
As you all know, I am all in favor of professionalism, but I am also in favor of knowing what's going on, and I think we all greatly value the sense that our ideas and work as community members might have an impact in making decisions like this.
-- phoebe