[Foundation-l] on (re)organizing wikimedia

Sat Jun 10 00:44:15 UTC 2006

hi all,

i would like to share with you some thoughts on (re)organization.
i read that there are plans to put a ceo in place to take care of executive
responsibilities. executive responsibilities are very different from those
of responsible wikians within the projects. so far these things have not
been separated at all, that is understandable for a young and growing
organization, but such cannot last or work well forever.

in my opinion:
1. the only way this organization, its projects and mission, its vitality
and appeal, will survive will be if a strict separation be implemented
between volunteer-work, executive tasks and their respective supervision.
2. separation of executive and project-related responsibilities by
installing an elected council of representatives from the projects is
mandatory.
3. the task of an appointed board should be supervising the work of the
executives, it should be a type of board consisting of very professional
people (the kind which in a way of speaking should have "better things to
do", if you get my meaning), and in general not deal with the projects at
all.
4. the council of representatives should supervise the projects, advise the
executive level, and in general not deal with the board at all.

i could be more elaborate in explaining the rationale behind these thoughts,
but i chose to keep things concise. note however, that i spoke of how
specific tasks, responsibilities and work can be organized, avoiding the
who-does-what, which is not of my concern now.
also these things should definitely not be mixed up.

for what it's worth these are my two euros ;-)

oscar