MDN @ 10 YearsMistakes, Successes & Lessons

Janet SwisherMozilla Developer Network

Socio-technical systems approach

An approach to designing and evaluating work systems. It is based on a theory that roles and tasks, technology and the social system make up one single interrelated system where a change in one part needs adjustments in other parts.

—PsychologyDictionary.org

Paramecium analogy

Paramecium● Permeable membrane● Specialized subsystems

Open doc community● Permeable boundary● Specialized tools,

processes, and roles

Thanks to Aaron Halfaker, Wikimedia Foundation: https://wikimania2015.wikimedia.org/wiki/Submissions/Wikipedia's_health:_A_socio-technical_overview

Eras of MDN's platform

● 2005-2008: MediaWiki● 2008-2012: MindTouch DekiWiki● 2012-present: Kuma

MDN editors per month

Mistakes were made

● Neglecting community● Leaving community out of decision-

making process

Things we've gotten right

● Engaging community● Doc sprints & “Hack on MDN” events● Regular virtual meetings● Better tools● Better onboarding docs● Exposing stuff that needs doing

Areas for improvement

● Encouraging repeat contributions● Reaching silent contributors● Defining meaningful leadership roles ● Planning for succession

What have we learned?

● Changing one part of a socio-technical system affects the other parts

● Neglecting community is a vicious cycle● Engaging community is a virtuous cycle

● Being open and transparent is hard but worth it● The best ideas don't come from you