Re: [Wikimedia-l] "Delegation of policy-making authority" resolution

22 Dec 2016

      Hi Chris,
I'd argue instead that we should strive to a consultation model or
structure so that it doesn't cost so much time and energy, that we limit it
to huge and obvious issues.
This is a very broadly phrased resolution, that I cannot out of hand
oversee the consequences of. The core of the resolution is: "Resolved, the
Board hereby delegates the authority to adopt, alter, and revoke policies
to the Executive Director, who may further delegate such authority to
Wikimedia Foundation staff as they deem appropriate;". The balancing
statement only speaks of policies for the Wikimedia Foundation. A possible
reading of this would be that the board now delegated basically all
authority (which is mostly symbolic, I guess) over community and
affiliation issues to the ED. It is unclear if this, for example, includes
affiliation approval.
Best,
Lodewijk
2016-12-22 14:19 GMT+01:00 Chris Keating chriskeatingwiki@gmail.com:
...
Personally I'd argue that WMF should only spend their (and everyone's) time
and energy on consultation when it's a substantive issue.
Chris
On Thu, Dec 22, 2016 at 9:59 AM, Lodewijk lodewijk@effeietsanders.org
wrote:
...
Hi Christophe,
I'm afraid that does not answer my question. If it changes absolutely
nothing, it would be an unnecessary resolution. So surely there is
*something* that changes (and that doesn't have to be a bad thing), such
as
...
improved clarity or legal certainty. But probably you're right - and this
is more symbolic than anything else. And in that sense your response also
feels more symbolic than anything else.
If your statement 'I fail to see what community input could have brought'
truly reflects your opinion, that is quite saddening, and what I feared
but
...
did not want to assume. It would be honest though, because it implies
that
...
you wouldn't have changed your mind no matter what unimagined facts and
arguments the community may have come up with.
The argument that the decision makers cannot imagine what the
stakeholders
...
could bring to the discussion reflects an attitude that you have all the
facts - a denial that there may be things that you don't know to not
know.
...
I hope this is an unfortunate glitch (which can happen).
Best,
Lodewijk
2016-12-22 8:13 GMT+01:00 Christophe Henner chenner@wikimedia.org:
...
Hey,
I feel there might be a misunderstanding here :)
Legal team has, for a long time now, always worked with the community
on
...
...
policy updates.
I don't see that changing.
This is a technical / legal delegation. I fail to see what community
input
...
could have brought. We needed to be able to make changes to policies
more
...
...
easily, it is now possible.
Does this mean it changes everything else, no.
Le 21 déc. 2016 11:24 PM, "Lodewijk" lodewijk@effeietsanders.org a
écrit :
Hi Christophe, all,
I wonder, was there an urgency to pass this resolution, or did I miss
the
...
...
invitation for community members to give input on this proposal? It
doesn't
...
look particularly sensitive so that it couldn't be shared in advance.
It
...
...
has potentially direct impact on the functioning of the community.
Seems
...
...
like a typical example where requesting input could be valuable. So I'd
like to understand the thinking behind the chosen process a little
better.
...
Basically I'd have liked the discussion in this thread to have been
part
...
of
...
the considerations, rather than a response to the resolution.
Thanks,
Lodewijk
2016-12-21 4:45 GMT+01:00 Christophe Henner chenner@wikimedia.org:
...
Hi Pine,
If you don't mind I will address your different points separately.
First, the resolution and its context. "Supervising" the ED is
indeed a
...
...
...
board duty, but this supervision must not become micro-management.
That
...
...
...
resolution provides staff the liberty to do their work more
efficiently.
...
It
...
doesn't remove our duty of oversight.
I feel like you think delegating negates ones ability to provide
supervision, I would tend to think otherwise as delegating free time
and
...
...
energy to focus on the core roles of a board.
Second, the requirements to answer the community. I'm sorry, here I
answered quite spontaneously, you are right nothing forces us to.
But, as I've said in my candidacy and in public some time I believe
we
...
...
...
have, as WMF board, a leadership duty. And I also believe you lead by
example. I've always believed, in the movement, we are all partners.
We
...
...
...
need each other to push forward our mission. You treat partners the
way
...
...
...
yourself want to be treated by them. That is why I believe it is
important
...
to communicate. It doesn't mean we have to see eye to eye on
everything
...
...
but
...
that when a question rise we should answer as much as we can. That's
something I've said to nearly everyone who reached out to me in the
past
...
...
few month privately, my answer perhaps won't be the one you want, but
at
...
...
least there will be an answer and an explanation every time I can.
Like
...
...
...
right now actually :D
Finally, regarding board governance review, Natalia, as chair of the
BGC,
...
...
published minutes of our meetings[1], and that is a key topic we
address
...
...
and not push aside. That being said it will be a board review, not
one
...
on
...
...
that specific event. We will be able to provide more information on
that
...
...
topic soon I think :)
I hope I answered your questions.
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_
Board_Governance_Committee
Christophe HENNER
Chair of the board of trustees
chenner@wikimedia.org
+33650664739 <+33%206%2050%2066%2047%2039>
twitter *@schiste*        skype *christophe_henner*
On Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 4:14 AM, Pine W wiki.pine@gmail.com wrote:
...
Hi Christophe,
I wish it was true that the Board is required to answer the
community's
...
...
...
questions, but that isn't the case. WMF isn't a membership
organization,
...
...
there isn't a policy that requires the Board to be responsive to
community
...
input and questions, and the community has limited ability to
influence
...
...
the
...
Board (though I think it is wise for the Board to listen).
My perspective is that the 2015 board was not particularly
responsive
...
...
to
...
...
community (or WMF employees') questions or input, including
questions
...
...
and
...
...
input regarding human resources and governance matters. (For
example, I
...
...
...
still haven't seen a good explanation of why WMF shouldn't undergo
a
...
...
...
...
governance review in the wake of Doc James' dismissal; WMF has
appeared
...
...
to
...
try to brush that issue under the rug rather than address it with
the
...
...
...
level
...
of transparency and rigor that I feel it deserves.) Thankfully the
level
...
of
...
responsiveness has improved since 2015, but it's incorrect to say
that
...
...
the
...
Board is required to respond to community questions.
The vague nature of the resolution as MZMcBride quotes it makes me
uncomfortable. I would suggest revising the language of this
resolution
...
...
so
...
that it is clearer which kinds of changes the Board will require
the
...
...
...
...
Executive Director to submit to the WMF Board for approval. I
realize
...
...
...
that
...
it may seem expedient to grant the Executive Director wide
latitude,
...
...
but
...
I
...
feel that the Board should provide more specificity, particularly
given
...
...
...
what happened when the Board was apparently so lax with the
supervision
...
...
of
...
the previous Executive Director.
Thanks,
Pine
On Tue, Dec 20, 2016 at 12:48 AM, Christophe Henner <
chenner@wikimedia.org
...
...
wrote:
...
Hey,
Basically it's making the legal team life's easier when they need
to
...
do
...
...
...
small and/or quick changes. They don't have to go through the
whole
...
...
...
...
...
resolution process to change a comma.
We're still informed and are talking with staff about those
changes.
...
...
...
...
As for responsibility, we decided to delegate responsibility, but
at
...
...
the
...
...
end of the day we still will have to answer the community's
question
...
:)
...
...
...
Have a good day
Christophe
Le 20 déc. 2016 6:50 AM, "MZMcBride" z@mzmcbride.com a écrit :
This is probably of interest to this list.
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Delegation_of_policy-ma
king_authority
...

Delegation of policy-making authority
This was approved on December 13, 2016 by the Board of Trustees.
Whereas, the Board of Trustees has traditionally approved certain
global
...
...
Wikimedia Foundation policies (such as the Privacy Policy and
Terms
...
...
of
...
...
...
Use) as requested during the July 4, 2004 Board meeting
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Meetings/July_4,_2004;
Whereas, the Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director has
authority
...
to
...
...
...
...
conduct the affairs of the Wikimedia Foundation, which includes
adopting
...
...
and implementing policies;
Resolved, the Board hereby delegates the authority to adopt,
alter,
...
...
and
...
...
...
revoke policies to the Executive Director, who may further
delegate
...
...
...
such
...
...
authority to Wikimedia Foundation staff as they deem appropriate;
Resolved, the Board may continue to review and approve policies
for
...
...
the
...
...
...
Wikimedia Foundation upon request to the Executive Director or as
required
...
by law.
Approve
Christophe Henner (Chair), Maria Sefidari (Vice Chair),
Dariusz
...
...
...
...
...
Jemielniak, Kelly Battles, Guy Kawasaki, Jimmy Wales, Nataliia
Tymkiv,
...
...
and Alice Wiegand
I wonder how much of this resolution is formalizing what was
already
...
...
...
...
happening and how much of this is moving the Wikimedia Foundation
in
...
a
...
...
new
...
direction. After a very tumultuous year at the Wikimedia
Foundation,
...
...
this
...
...
is certainly a notable development.
I also wonder in what ways this abrupt change will alter the
relationship
...
...
between the editing communities and the Board of Trustees. The
Wikimedia
...
...
Foundation Board of Trustees seems to be committing itself to
downsizing
...
...
its role and responsibilities. The concern is that a change like
this
...
...
...
will
...
reduce accountability when policies are set, unset, and changed
by
...
...
...
...
someone
...
overseeing a large staff that regularly comes in conflict with an
even
...
...
...
larger set of editing communities. The Executive Director, of
course,
...
...
is
...
...
unelected and has been a central point of repeated controversies
recently.
...
It's been less than a year since the previous Executive Director
resigned
...
...
after being forced out by her staff. In the context of the recent
history,
...
this resolution is all the more puzzling.
MZMcBride

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] "Delegation of policy-making authority" resolution

and Alice Wiegand