Hoi,
I have mentioned quality so often with so little response that I do not
believe for an instant that Wikipedians really care to think beyond what is
already done. Dismissing quality measures is easy when it means that some
things will change. Wikipedia is resistant to change even when change
improves its quality. At the same time I find that people find fault in
Wikidata when it is ONLY about sources and not the associated quality.
This is about a Wikimedia strategy. Proposals are underway to Wikidatify
both Commons and Wiktionary. That will bring long yearned for possibilities
for improving its quality and usefulness for our readers. What can be done
for Wikipedia is all too easy and does have little impact for its users.
Internally wikilinks are associated with pointers to other articles, the
only difference will be that a Wikidata item will be associated as well.
You will find that misdirection will be found and many redirects can be
removed as well by pointing directly to the final article. This is an easy
win and so is allowing for linking red links to Wikidata. Internal in
MediaWiki it could use the same pointer pair. It allows for more available
information and it will prevent a lot of misdirections in the future.
When we talk Wikimedia and have no way to discuss quality of our projects
in a non-disparaging way, you will find that it becomes an issue that needs
addressing at a higher level. The level of our board and our director. It
is for them to decide if there is a point to what I say, it is because so
far the "producer side" proves ineffective in dealing with the quality it
produces. Technically improving Wikipedia is relatively easy.
Thanks,
GerardM
On 16 September 2016 at 06:56, Pine W <wiki.pine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Gerard,
I think that readership has an interdependent relationship with the quality
and quantity of our products and services, along with marketing and word of
mouth. The quality and quantity of our products and services, along with
marketing and word of mouth, are all issues that can be addressed on the
producer side (including affiliates and grantees ) as well as the reader
side. I would agree that design for both readers and editors is important.
Improving internal search (including cross-wiki and multimedia search) and
other tools that are used by both producers and consumers is nice when that
can be arranged.
Hi BrillLyle,
At present I'm uncomfortable with the centralized nature of WMF which seems
to work in ways that are opposed to open source philosophy and culture.
Among other disadvantages, there is a concentration of risk to the entire
Wikimedia movement in the WMF. I'd be interested in hearing thoughts on
ways to reduce that risk. My thought is that decentralizing a number of the
functions that are currently concentrated in WMF might make sense, along
with having some mechanisms for the remainder of the movement to detach
from WMF should the remainder of the movement think that is a good idea.
Let us hope that we never arrive at that day, but the community and WMF
have had multiple confrontations in the past, and I think it's important
that the community and affiliates have the option to detach WMF while
continuing the Wikimedia mission.
Greater openness from WMF would likely increase cooperation between WMF,
the community, and affiliates, and decrease the likelihood of
confrontation. By "greater openness" I don't mean "talk about
trust" but
take concrete steps like making all of WMF expenditures public, having live
broadcasts of most WMF Board and Board committee meetings, and publicizing
the reasons for WMF global bans.
I agree that some volunteers are overworked and would be interested in
hearing ideas about how to address that while decentralizing functions from
WMF. One option might be for WMF to become more willing to support paid
affiliate staff to do functions that historically have been done at least
partly by volunteers, such as responding to questions from newbies and
organizing programs with GLAM+STEM institutions and educators.
I like the idea of a central helpdesk. We already have OTRS, but an on-wiki
central helpdesk that's like the Teahouse, multilingual, and mostly
supported by paid staff might be very helpful. I'm not sure how that would
fit with the rest of the strategy. Perhaps a strategy would be "Increase
paid affiliate support for volunteers?" I'd be interested to hear what you
think.
Pine
On Mon, Sep 12, 2016 at 1:18 PM, Gerard Meijssen <
gerard.meijssen(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Hoi,
For me there are two things missing.
* It is about the readers stupid! That is what we do it for. So how are
we
going to get more readers, how do we involve
them. What can we achieve
when
we consider marketing approaches and marketing
KPI's.
* If design is important.. ok but how about quality, we can do so much
more
when we think of our projects as connected to
each other and to the rest
of
the internet. Why do we not work together? Why
are we so much on an
amalgamation of islands? When we share, we do not lose when we are given
back we become enriched in the process.
Thanks,
GerardM
On 11 September 2016 at 22:48, Pine W <wiki.pine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Below are some thoughts I have possible themes
that can be included in
the
strategy update. I'm sharing these in public
in case other Wikimedians
would like to discuss strategy.
1. Design experience
Move the design and intuitive ease of use of the Wikimedia user
experience
away from a 2000s experience and toward a 2020s
experience, both on
desktop
and mobile platforms.
2. Social experience
Decrease the frequency and intensity of negative experiences, and
increase
> the frequency and intensity of positive experiences.
>
> 3. Governance
> Decentralize the functions currently managed by the Wikimedia
Foundation
to
> reduce dependencies and increase resilience of the Wikimedia projects,
> communities, and affiliates. Empower Wikimedia affiliates and the
online
communities to be capable of continuing operations, fundraising, and
growth
> even if WMF becomes incapacitated or corrupted.
>
> 4. Openness
> Transform WMF and the affiliates into models of open governance and
open
culture,
particularly concerning Board activities and the use of
financial
> resources. Make information be public by default rather than private by
> default. Proactively publish the expenses and compensation for all
> individuals and organizations spending or receiving funds from WMF and
> other Wikimedia affiliates. With limited exceptions for discussions for
> which there is a strong reason for confidentiality, livestream all
Board
and Board
committee meetings of WMF, chapters, and thematic
organizations.
>
> 5. Finance
> Acquire adequate financial resources to achieve goals 1 through 4
within
the
lifespan of the strategic plan's time horizon.
I look forward to hearing the thoughts of others in the months ahead,
both
on Wikimedia-l and on Meta.
Regards,
Pine
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