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Project Governance slides from TYPO3 Developer Days
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In this sessionWhat are governace models? Why are they important in FOSS projects?
Varieties of Governence models
Contribution management styles
Reflection on your own governance model
What's Governance?
The roles and processes for decision making within a project
Gardler, R. Hanganu, G. et al – Governance Models
Informs potential contributors Assures potential users
Helps build sustainabilityRetains Control
Helps the project achieve its goals
Governance in Ubuntuhttp://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu/governance
Ensures...
1) There is a defined process that helps people contribute
2) Decisions are taken in a fair and transparent manner
3) Necessary decisions are taken, even when there's no clear consensus. There's also a clear path for appeal.
What's Governance?
Styles of Governance
BenevolentDictatorship Meritocracy
(Formal)
Benevolent Dictator
Gardler, R and Hanganu, G. et al - Benevolent dictator governance model
Folgel, K. - Producing Open Source Software
● Sensitivity to your own influence● Letting people air ideas (even stupid ones)● Ability to acknowledge own mistakes● Ability to recognise good design● Personality
Folgel, K.
Qualities of a Benevolent Dictator
Linus's take on being nice "If you want me to "act professional", I can tell you that I'm not
interested. I'm sitting in my home office wearign [sic] a bathrobe.
The same way I'm not going to start wearing ties, I'm *also* not
going to buy into the fake politeness, the lying, the office politics
and backstabbing, the passive aggressiveness, and the
buzzwords. Because THAT is what "acting professionally"
results in: people resort to all kinds of really nasty things because
they are forced to act out their normal urges in unnatural ways."
Meritocracy
"Power for those who earn it"
Meritocracy
Gardler, R and Hanganu, G. et al – Meritocratic governance model
Helen contributes work to the project
Helen gains respect from peers
Respect gives Helen'svoice more weight in
discussions
Helen is elected orappointed to a leadership
position
● Inclusive – Equality of opportunity● Operates on consensus rather than votes● "Lazy Consensus" helps expedite non-controversial decisions
Meritocracy
Ubuntu – Striking a balance
Read the Ubuntu Governance handout
What are the roles?
How are decisions made?
Is it a Benevolent Dictatorship or a Meritocracy?
Project Management
Raymond, E. - The Cathedral and the Bazaar
Cathedral
● Small group of experts● Infrequent release cycle ● Heavily tested● Contributions subject to heavy review
Bazaar
● Larger, less formal group● "Release Early, Release Often"● "With enough eyes, all bugs are shallow"● Responsive to user and tester feedback
BenevolentDictator
FormalMeritocracy
Cathedral
Bazaar
Less open toparticipatory governance
More open toparticipatory governance
Less opento externalcontribution
More opento externalcontribution
GNU Emacs(c. 1997)
Ubuntu
Apache HTTPD
Apache OODT
Linux
Reflection Activity
● Think about how decision are made within your project, and how contributions are handled
● Look at the graph of governance and contribution models
● Where does your project current sit?● Where do you think it should sit?
Summary● Governance is important to define and communicate how your project operates● You need to strike the right balances to retain the right amount of control while inviting the right amount of contribution● There's no "one true way", it depends on your project's goals● Communicating your governance model effectively is important for managing the expectations of contributors
Questions?
Cathedral, Frankfurt by Brian Burgerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/wirelizard/1414035429/
Istanbul - Grand Bazaar by Roger Woolstadthttp://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/3498051077
Saint IGNUcius speaking by Beatrice Murchhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/3001698026/
P1010100 by dazfuller
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68293811@N00/4043153407
Image Credits
ReferencesGardler, R and Hanganu, G. et al (2013) Governance Modelshttp://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/governanceModels
Gardler, R. and Hanganu, G. et al (2013) Benevolent Dictator Governance Modelhttp://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/benevolentdictatorgovernancemodel
Gardler, R. and Hanganu, G. et al (2013) Meritocratic Governance Modelhttp://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/meritocraticGovernanceModel
Fogel, K. (2005) "What makes a good benevolent dictator?" Producing Open Source Softwarehttp://producingoss.com/html-chunk/social-infrastructure.html#benevolent-dictator
Raymond, E. (2000) The Cathedral and the Bazaarhttp://catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/
Canonical Ltd. Governancehttp://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu/governance
Linux Namesake argues in favour of being a jerkhttp://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.822248-Linux-Namesake-Argues-In-Favor-Of-Being-A-Jerk
