Dear Pine and Lodewijk,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback. I would like to comment
on some of your concerns in my role as the Process Architect.
The scope for all groups has been defined in quite a broad way, mainly to
keep the level of conversations high and mitigate the risk of too much time
being spent on details and tactical issues. For the Technology & Product
group for example, we think that there are more benefits in connecting them
than separating people with expertise and connections within both areas.
We are indeed looking for high commitment in the Working Groups as we would
like the participants to be well informed and effective in the
conversations. Working Group members will not only be participating in
discussion meetings, but reading through existing materials, research and
preparing for the meetings. In addition to that, we expect some time to go
to contextualizing these materials and carrying the conversations from the
Working Groups into their “home” groups and communities – and vice versa.
This takes time and we want to be clear about it, as to avoid Working Group
dropout, burnout and ensure the presence of the diverse perspectives
throughout the process.
For both volunteers and staff members it will mean prioritizing. That is
the reason we are encouraging discussions inside your communities, groups,
collaboratives and organizations to decide who are the best representatives
of your perspectives and expertise. For many organizations and groups, the
coming year will be a transition year, with time set aside for strategic
planning and a redistribution of responsibilities within the organization
or group. As to individuals - it is of course up to them to decide what
they can manage and not and what are the priorities in their contributions.
Thank you so much for the feedback targeted towards ensuring clarity around
the process and some of the specific points regarding participation in the
Working Groups.
Have a great continuation to the week!
Kaarel
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lodewijk <lodewijk(a)effeietsanders.org>
Date: 2018-06-13 14:57 GMT-07:00
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Movement Strategy: Open Call for Working Group
members
To: Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
The number of hours (a minimum of 5 hours, each week) is indeed very
significant - especially as a minimum per week (which means that the
average will more likely end up around 8-12 hours?). I understand that a
significant commitment is necessary (an average of 1 as suggested by Pine
will unlikely produce anything more than a few mailing list discussions,
I'm afraid).
Just to set expectations clearly: I read that the grants department is
scaling back their community facing activities (and I guess also other
activities) to free up time to work on the strategy. I read that the FDC is
'skipping' a round to do the same. Is this the general expectation for
other volunteers as well?
This is probably all a conscious choice - but I'm afraid it will
self-select for a certain type of participants that can make a 9 month
commitment for such a time investment. I'm guessing you already considered
having working groups with tiers - where you have some people with a large
time commitment, and some people with a more reasonable commitment? That
may have helped in diversification.
Best,
Lodewijk
On Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 1:30 PM Pine W <wiki.pine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Nicole,
Generally I like how the groups are organized. I have a few questions and
comments.
1. The Product & Technology working group seems like it has a large scope
for a single group. Also, the people who are in that working group will
probably want to sync with TechCom and with the "Platform Evolution"
initiative. Have you considered dividing this group's responsibilities
into
two (or more) groups, and how to synchronize this
group's work with
TechCom
and the Platform Evolution initiative?
2. It appears that Working Groups page asks for members of the groups to
commit to a minimum of five hours per week for nine months. That seems to
be a very high commitment to ask from volunteers, especially when people
would be adding their WG activities on top of their existing
responsibilities and/or de-prioritize other valuable Wikimedia activities
in favor of WG activity. Also, if I estimate 10 members per group times 9
groups times 5 hours per week times 39 weeks, then that means that the WG
activities would consume 17,550 volunteer hours, which seems excessive. I
suggest that you reduce the commitment that you request to an average of
one hour per week per person, which would likely result in more people
being willing to volunteer and reduce the diversion of people's time from
other valuable activities, and that you accordingly make any necessary
adjustments to plans for paid staff to support the WGs.
3. Has the budget for the 2nd phase of the strategy process been
published?
I am not asking for a promise that the process
will cost a fixed amount,
but I would hope to see detailed cost estimates and explanations of how
estimates were made.
Thanks!
Pine
(
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 6:24 PM, Nicole Ebber <nicole.ebber(a)wikimedia.de
wrote:
> Dear Wikimedians,
>
> Following up on Katherine’s email from last week[1], we are today
> opening the call for Working Group members for 9 Thematic Areas (yes,
> we added one more!).
>
> == Working Group members ==
> The Working Groups will map the present situation of their Thematic
> Area, the obstacles and opportunities, as well as needed changes to
> advance our movement in our strategic direction. They will identify
> possible strategies for making these changes and develop concrete
> recommendations for the movement on how to ratify and implement
> them.[2]
>
> Working Group members will need to be able to invest a minimum of 5
> hours per week, but that time might vary depending on the workflow
> that each group agrees upon. Members of the Working Groups are
> expected to act in the interest of the movement, not in the interest
> of their own organization or community.
>
> == Selection of members ==
> We are looking for a maximum of 15 members for each of the 9 groups.
> For best results we will need a diverse set of members from across the
> movement. We have developed a set of criteria, to ensure the necessary
> expertise, diversity, and representation.[3] We will assemble a
> Steering Committee to decide upon membership of the Working Groups in
> close coordination with the Core Strategy Team.[4]
>
> == Apply to become a working group member ==
> We encourage everyone with an interest in the strategic conversations
> to apply for becoming a Working Group member in their topic of
> expertise. We recommend that movement organizations and groups create
> internal processes for the selection of their candidates to avoid
> multiple, competing applications.
>
> The call will be open until June 25, 2018. ***Please apply via this
> application form.[5]*** To prepare your application, you can consult
> the overview of the questions asked in the form on Meta.[6]
>
> == Next steps ==
> We expect to be able to announce the Working Group members in the
> second week of July, so that the working groups can be assembled,
> onboarded and ready to start working before Wikimania. The first step
> for the groups will be to agree upon their set-up and scope of work.
> At Wikimania, we plan to convene the attending Working Group members
> in the Strategy Space to discuss and refine their road to the
> recommendations and ensure exchange between the groups.[7]
>
> We invite you all to familiarize yourselves with the existing
> documentation of the Working Group(s) of your interest,[8] add
> comments, additional input or share your concerns via talk pages Your
> comments will be then be taken into consideration by the respective
> Working Groups.
>
> We are looking forward to working and having these long-awaited
> conversations with many of you!
>
> In the name of the Strategy Core Team,
> Nicole
>
> [1]
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2018-
> June/090417.html
> [2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
> movement/2018-20/Working_Groups
> [3]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
> movement/2018-20/Working_Groups#Who_should_join_the_Working_Groups?
> [4]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
> movement/2018-20/Working_Groups/Steering_Committee
> [5]
https://goo.gl/forms/zVElm0hLT9eZvqwF3
> [6]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
> movement/2018-20/Working_Groups/Apply/Form
> [7]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
>
movement/2018-20/Working_Groups#What_is_the_timeline_for_Working_Groups?
[8]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_
movement/2018-20/Working_Groups#What_are_the_key_thematic_areas?
--
Nicole Ebber
Adviser International Relations
Wikimedia Movement Strategy Process Lead
Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
http://wikimedia.de
Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e.
V. Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts
Berlin-Charlottenburg unter der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig
anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
Steuernummer 27/029/42207.
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