Thanks for sharing this work, and for also sharing some of the details about how and why you made the handbook!
I've also added the handbook, along with WMAT's Codex, to this list of community resources around decision-making and governance (part of the organizational effectiveness learning center for Wikimedia organizations) so other Wikimedia organizations can find it as an example if they are also thinking about creating or revising their board handbooks: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Organizational_effectiveness/Learning_center.... Please add to this list if you have other ideas about good resources in this area!
Emeric, would you consider adding a learning pattern ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Learning_patterns) to the library on Meta about the creation of the handbook? I think all of the text you would need for a useful learning pattern is probably already included in this Email announcement ;)
Thanks again for your work.
Cheers,
Winifred
On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 8:24 AM, Jean-Frédéric Berthelot < jean-frederic.berthelot@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
Dear movement fellows,
tl;dr
Please find on Meta the Wikimédia France board handbook (in French) <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27a... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27administration < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27a...
== Long story ==
Wikimédia France is moving forward with its continuous improvement process and wishes for an adapted governance. After revising our organizational structure [0], and putting in place the systematic evaluation of our programs [1], we do not want that governance becomes the limiting factor of our improvement.
Since the hiring of our Executive Director who leads all staff, we were aware that the board tasks and processes had to evolve. That meant no more micro-management or "operational" stuff (except for certain board roles) and focus on strategy.
To that effect, at the occasion of our previous General Assembly, the board drafted a board handbook [2], heavily inspired by the Wikimedia Foundation one (thanks for sharing!)
The goal was to make sure every current member of the Board had the same vision of our governance, and to ensure that applicants for the Board have a good vision of what it means to be on the Board (expectations, posture, do's & don'ts, ...) - like a shareholders' agreement.
This shared version is our first iteration as we anticipate to complete, or adapt, this document according to our governance's evolution. It is relatively specific to our self-identified strengths and weaknesses. We also think that it is closely linked to our structure, our background and local context (relation with our ED, local labour law...).
But despite all these specificities, we have (or will have) similar stages of development and governance issues: that's why we share with you this "Handbook", with the hope that the initiative or the contents can be useful for you - even if it's in French.
== Process ==
The handbook writing was led by Émeric Vallespi, supported by the rest of the board. It was then shared with a restricted circle where we gathered input from 6 former board members, with almost 100 comments. We then communicated the document to our members before the General Assembly, and finally published it on Meta where it joined the Austrian Kodex in [[Category:Governance]]. Sharing is caring :)
[0] <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Proposals/2013-2014_round2/Wikim%...
[1] <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Proposals/2013-2014_round2/Wikim%...
[2] <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27a... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27administration < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27a...
< https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim%C3%A9dia_France/Guide_du_conseil_d%27a...
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them to Émeric ;-)
Cheers,
Jean-Frédéric _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe