Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

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Chris Keating

27 Apr 2014 27 Apr '14

8:03 p.m.

Hi all, I've started a page on Meta which I hope will act as a hub for documentation and ideas around the training and development needs of Wikimedia movement organisations: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organisational_development I'd ask anyone who's interested in this kind of thing to have a look and add examples and thoughts for the future. As many people will know from my contributions to this year's and last year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we held in London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the movement (or, at least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement organisations!) can and should do better. I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of view! We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single body responsible for doing this kind of training and development work, so I would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom, Chapters, Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as something where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping out the way forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! Regards, Chris (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

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Fæ

27 Apr 27 Apr

10:52 p.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Thanks Chris. Interesting you chose to link to my unfinished peer review with WMEE, considering you asked me to halt my inter-chapter governance activities when you were the Chair of WMUK. If you think it is a good idea to allow me to finish the peer reviews I started, perhaps you should check with the board of WMUK so that I am can "officially" approach those involved to see if they think it would be worthwhile. Fae On 27/04/2014, Chris Keating <chriskeatingwiki(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

Kevin Gorman

28 Apr 28 Apr

1:24 a.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Hi Chris - Thanks for starting this; it's something we need, especially going in to the next few years. I'll aim to contribute quite a bit to the page, although the bulk of my contributions may await the end of the term. It's also probably worth noting that there will be some degree of overlap between this and the WMF's program evaluation pages (although I do see an active point in having both sets of pages.) Best, Kevin Gorman On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 3:52 PM, Fæ <faewik(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

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Philippe Beaudette

2:39 a.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

...

Lodewijk

6:30 a.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Thanks Philippe for the pointer. Sounds like an interesting angle, she has been hired very recently it seems? I'm looking forward to the slightly more details description on the user page that is apparently forthcoming :) Lodewijk 2014-04-28 4:39 GMT+02:00 Philippe Beaudette <philippe(a)wikimedia.org>rg>:

...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

Balázs Viczián

4:30 p.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Hi all, pls correct me if I'm wrong, but WCA was aimed to do this (and already collected some materials) but ultimately failed due to the fact that from this basic idea it was quickly developed into an "uber-chapter"-like thing, not to mention the other problems. Anyways, I would highly recommend to stop reinventing the wheel every year as there are at least 2 or more similar (or like-minded) initiatives from the past years. Plus those that I'm not aware of. Rather collect and merge them into a single proposition as there are plenty to learn from their failure than starting again (what you just did btw) Imo. Cheers, Balazs 2014.04.28. 8:30, "Lodewijk" <lodewijk(a)effeietsanders.org> ezt írta:

...

Hi Chris, Have you approached Anna Stillwell - https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/User:AStillwell_(WMF) - about this? She seems a natural person to include in your discussions and thinking. Having worked with her some, I think she'll have some real insights for you. :-) pb *Philippe Beaudette * \\ Director, Community Advocacy \\ Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. T: 1-415-839-6885 x6643 | philippe(a)wikimedia.org | : @Philippewiki<https://twitter.com/Philippewiki> On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:03 PM, Chris Keating <chriskeatingwiki(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote: > Hi all, > > I've started a page on Meta which I hope will act as a hub for > documentation and ideas around the training and development needs of > Wikimedia movement organisations: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organisational_development > > I'd ask anyone who's interested in this kind of thing to have a look

and

> add examples and thoughts for the future. > > As many people will know from my contributions to this year's and last > year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we held in > London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the movement (or,

> least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement > organisations!) can and should do better. > > I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia > Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of view! > > We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single body > responsible for doing this kind of training and development work, so I > would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom, Chapters, > Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as something > where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping out the

way

forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! Regards, Chris (1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

Salvador A

5:12 p.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

If a topic merge regularly only means that is an overwhelming worry that must be solved. I don't see Chris' proposal as "reinventing the wheel" but as a new attempt to give answers to an inconclude question. If past attempts have failed that doesn't mean that this one must do it either. Non sequitur. Even if it fails it can be the basis or inspiration for a future success. Remember one of our principles: Be bold! The members of AffComm are willing to support any initiative related to development of affiliates. Please Chris, feel comfortable asking us whatever you need. One of our members will follow up your efforts. Finally, we encourage the community to participate. 2014-04-28 11:30 GMT-05:00 Balázs Viczián <balazs.viczian(a)wikimedia.hu>hu>:

...

Thanks Philippe for the pointer. Sounds like an interesting angle, she

has

been hired very recently it seems? I'm looking forward to the slightly

details description on the user page that is apparently forthcoming :) Lodewijk 2014-04-28 4:39 GMT+02:00 Philippe Beaudette <philippe(a)wikimedia.org>rg>: > Hi Chris, > > Have you approached Anna Stillwell - > https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/User:AStillwell_(WMF) - about

this?

> She seems a natural person to include in your discussions and

thinking.

> Having worked with her some, I think she'll have some real insights

for

you. :-) pb *Philippe Beaudette * \\ Director, Community Advocacy \\ Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. T: 1-415-839-6885 x6643 | philippe(a)wikimedia.org | : @Philippewiki<https://twitter.com/Philippewiki> On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:03 PM, Chris Keating <chriskeatingwiki(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote: > Hi all, > > I've started a page on Meta which I hope will act as a hub for > documentation and ideas around the training and development needs of > Wikimedia movement organisations: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organisational_development > > I'd ask anyone who's interested in this kind of thing to have a look

and > > add examples and thoughts for the future. > > > > As many people will know from my contributions to this year's and

last

> > year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we held in > > London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the movement

(or,

at > > least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement > > organisations!) can and should do better. > > > > I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia > > Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of view! > > > > We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single body > > responsible for doing this kind of training and development work, so

> > would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom,

Chapters,

> > Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as

something

> where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping out the

way

forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! Regards, Chris (1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

> > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe:

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,

<mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

-- *Salvador Alcántar* *AffComm member* *WMMX Board member*

Claudia Garád

6:37 p.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Szia Balazs, I don't think that the the topics (such as organizational development) that led to the idea of WCA are the reason that it failed. In fact this current initiative is an attempt to carry on what has been started in the context of WCA but in a more lose, flexible manner (a learning from the WCA history) and to incorporate what has been done up to that point. It's not detached from what has been done before. The positive feedback on the pilot workshop in London encouraged us to carry on and to refine the concept. To put it on a broader basis and to approach the issue more systematically we are currently planning a survey with Anasuyas team in order to assess the needs for capacity building in the various organizations. We asked Bence for advice and to incorporate AffComm know how. I'm happy that Chris and other dedicated volunteers going through all the effort to collect information on what has been done so far and to drive this forward. With joint forces we can generate a lot of positive impact for the movement. Best Claudia Am 28.04.2014 19:12, schrieb Salvador A:

...

Thanks Philippe for the pointer. Sounds like an interesting angle, she

has

been hired very recently it seems? I'm looking forward to the slightly

this?

> She seems a natural person to include in your discussions and

thinking.

> Having worked with her some, I think she'll have some real insights

for

and >> add examples and thoughts for the future. >> >> As many people will know from my contributions to this year's and

last

>> year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we held in >> London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the movement

(or,

at >> least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement >> organisations!) can and should do better. >> >> I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia >> Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of view! >> >> We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single body >> responsible for doing this kind of training and development work, so

>> would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom,

Chapters,

>> Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as

something

> where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping out the

way >> forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! >> >> Regards, >> >> Chris >> >> >> (1) >> >>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

>> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list >> Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org >> Unsubscribe:

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,

> <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

Balázs Viczián

29 Apr 29 Apr

4:56 a.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

Hi Salvador, I beleive we have at least three (or more) "basises for inspiration and future success" already. All started from scratches and all of them almost completely ignored all previous attempts. My 2 cents here is to lower the level of such ignorance as much as possible and build them in into this proposal; at least by pointing out what to avoid based on their failures (not to mention to learn what could work as showed popular) to speed up the process Balazs 2014.04.28. 19:12, "Salvador A" <salvador1983(a)gmail.com> ezt írta:

...

thing,

not to mention the other problems. Anyways, I would highly recommend to stop reinventing the wheel every

year

as there are at least 2 or more similar (or like-minded) initiatives from the past years. Plus those that I'm not aware of. Rather collect and merge them into a single proposition as there are

plenty

to learn from their failure than starting again (what you just did btw) Imo. Cheers, Balazs 2014.04.28. 8:30, "Lodewijk" <lodewijk(a)effeietsanders.org> ezt írta:

Thanks Philippe for the pointer. Sounds like an interesting angle, she

has

been hired very recently it seems? I'm looking forward to the slightly

this?

> She seems a natural person to include in your discussions and

thinking.

> Having worked with her some, I think she'll have some real insights

for > > you. :-) > > > > pb > > > > > > *Philippe Beaudette * \\ Director, Community Advocacy \\ Wikimedia > > Foundation, Inc. > > T: 1-415-839-6885 x6643 | philippe(a)wikimedia.org | : > > @Philippewiki<https://twitter.com/Philippewiki> > > > > > > On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:03 PM, Chris Keating > > <chriskeatingwiki(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote: > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > I've started a page on Meta which I hope will act as a hub for > > > documentation and ideas around the training and development needs

> > > Wikimedia movement organisations: > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organisational_development > > > > > > I'd ask anyone who's interested in this kind of thing to have a

look

and > > add examples and thoughts for the future. > > > > As many people will know from my contributions to this year's and

last > > > year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we held

> > London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the movement

(or, > at > > > least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement > > > organisations!) can and should do better. > > > > > > I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia > > > Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of view! > > > > > > We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single body > > > responsible for doing this kind of training and development work,

> > would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom,

Chapters,

> > Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as

something > > > where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping out

the

way

> forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! > > Regards, > > Chris > > > (1) > >

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

> > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe:

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org

?subject=unsubscribe>

> > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe:

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,

<mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

-- *Salvador Alcántar* *AffComm member* *WMMX Board member* _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

Chris Keating

8:03 a.m.

New subject: Organizational development for the Wikimedia movement

...

My 2 cents here is to lower the level of such ignorance as much as

possible

...

and build them in into this proposal; at least by pointing out what to avoid based on their failures (not to mention to learn what could work as showed popular) to speed up the process

Yes, that would be a good idea. The only case I'm particularly familiar with is the WCA, which was a good idea that didn't work out. The WCA did some useful work in this area - particularly promoting the concept of peer review and shared learning. I have linked to all the WCA outcomes that I'm aware of in this area, if I have missed them please point them out! The main lesson I draw from the WCA's experience though is that a) trying to set up a structure that solves many problems is not something we are ready to do; and b) that it is better to treat this as an issue that the WMF should engage in than something that it shouldn't. Chris5

...

Balazs 2014.04.28. 19:12, "Salvador A" <salvador1983(a)gmail.com> ezt írta: > If a topic merge regularly only means that is an overwhelming worry that > must be solved. > > I don't see Chris' proposal as "reinventing the wheel" but as a new

attempt

...

> to give answers to an inconclude question. If past attempts have failed > that doesn't mean that this one must do it either. Non sequitur. Even

if it

...

> fails it can be the basis or inspiration for a future success. Remember

one

...

> of our principles: Be bold! > > The members of AffComm are willing to support any initiative related to > development of affiliates. Please Chris, feel comfortable asking us > whatever you need. One of our members will follow up your efforts.

Finally,

...

> we encourage the community to participate. > > > 2014-04-28 11:30 GMT-05:00 Balázs Viczián <balazs.viczian(a)wikimedia.hu>hu>: > > > Hi all, > > > > pls correct me if I'm wrong, but WCA was aimed to do this (and already > > collected some materials) but ultimately failed due to the fact that

from

...

> > this basic idea it was quickly developed into an "uber-chapter"-like > thing, > > not to mention the other problems. > > > > Anyways, I would highly recommend to stop reinventing the wheel every > year > > as there are at least 2 or more similar (or like-minded) initiatives

from

...

> > the past years. Plus those that I'm not aware of. > > > > Rather collect and merge them into a single proposition as there are > plenty > > to learn from their failure than starting again (what you just did

btw)

...

> > > > Imo. > > > > Cheers, Balazs > > 2014.04.28. 8:30, "Lodewijk" <lodewijk(a)effeietsanders.org> ezt írta: > > > > > Thanks Philippe for the pointer. Sounds like an interesting angle,

she

...

> > has > > > been hired very recently it seems? I'm looking forward to the

slightly

...

> > more > > > details description on the user page that is apparently forthcoming

...

> > > > Lodewijk > > > > > > 2014-04-28 4:39 GMT+02:00 Philippe Beaudette <philippe(a)wikimedia.org

: > > > > > > > Hi Chris, > > > > > > > > Have you approached Anna Stillwell - > > > > https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/User:AStillwell_(WMF) - about > > this? > > > > She seems a natural person to include in your discussions and > > thinking. > > > > Having worked with her some, I think she'll have some real

insights

...

> > for > > > > you. :-) > > > > > > > > pb > > > > > > > > > > > > *Philippe Beaudette * \\ Director, Community Advocacy \\

Wikimedia

...

> > > > Foundation, Inc. > > > > T: 1-415-839-6885 x6643 | philippe(a)wikimedia.org | : > > > > @Philippewiki<https://twitter.com/Philippewiki> > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:03 PM, Chris Keating > > > > <chriskeatingwiki(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > > > > > I've started a page on Meta which I hope will act as a hub for > > > > > documentation and ideas around the training and development

needs

...

> of > > > > > Wikimedia movement organisations: > > > > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organisational_development > > > > > > > > > > I'd ask anyone who's interested in this kind of thing to have a > look > > > and > > > > > add examples and thoughts for the future. > > > > > > > > > > As many people will know from my contributions to this year's

and

...

> > last > > > > > year's Wikimedia conference, or from the training workshop we

held

...

> in > > > > > London in early March, this is an issue where I feel the

movement

...

> > (or, > > > at > > > > > least, the part of the movement that is involved in movement > > > > > organisations!) can and should do better. > > > > > > > > > > I was interested to read the Signpost coverage of the Wikimedia > > > > > Conference(1) which evidently comes from a similar point of

view!

...

> > > > > > > > > > We are slightly hampered by the fact that there is no single

body

...

> > > > > responsible for doing this kind of training and development

work,

...

> so > > I > > > > > would invite everyone with a stake in this (WMF, FDC, AffCom, > > Chapters, > > > > > Thorgs, User Groups, interested individuals) to treat this as > > something > > > > > where everyone can play a role in sharing experience, scoping

out

...

> the > > > way > > > > > forward, and building a better way of doing this for the future! > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > > > > > Chris > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > (1) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-04-23/Speci…

...

> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > > > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > Unsubscribe: > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org > ?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > > > Unsubscribe: > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org

?subject=unsubscribe>

...

> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list > > > Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > > Unsubscribe:

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,

...

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participants (8)

Balázs Viczián
Chris Keating
Claudia Garád
Fæ
Kevin Gorman
Lodewijk
Philippe Beaudette
Salvador A