TaskTeamGovernance < Community

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---+!! Task Team Governance

Please discuss on the [[TaskTeamGovernanceTalk][discussion page]].

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This topic describes the system used for <nop>%WIKITOOLNAME% *operations*, i.e. how the community creates projects, how it monitors, manages and closes out those projects. It applies to *all* types of activities, not just programming but also marketing, sysadmin, conferences, bar camps. Anything that needs an organisational framework, and is driven from the community, has a place here.

The system is just getting kick-started, so not all the pieces are in place yet. Please bear with us while we all go through the birth-pangs - and if you see something wrong, just fix it!

---++ Statement of Beliefs
 The system described below is based on the following beliefs: 
   1 Keep it simple
   1 Recognise people for the contributions they make, and not for those they don't make
   1 Don't burden people with unwanted responsibilities
   1 Don't try to micro-manage people
   1 Written processes have great power to guide people's actions
   1 Experimentation is good
   1 No lifetime appointments, of any kind
   1 Act; don't wait for others to act

---++ Administrative Board
 The task team system is administered by an elected [[AssociationBoard][administrative board]]. This board is elected by the community, and is responsible for: 
   1 Maintaining the [[OurMission][%WIKITOOLNAME% Mission]]
   1 Writing the roadmap, including identifying broad goals for future releases
   1 Reviewing proposals for, identifying, and rubber-stamping the charters for task teams
   1 Monitoring performance of task teams
   1 Taking final decisions, when asked to do so by a task team.
It is important to understand that the role of the administrative board is *not* to govern; it does not dictate to the community how things will be done. The purpose is to provide administrative support for the community, such that community members have a framework within which they can work.

The administrative board is a function of the [[Association][Foswiki Association]] board.

---++ Task teams
Task teams are groups of people who get together to address a problem that they share. Task Teams exists for the duration of something - for example, a release, a new version of the website, a translation into Ancient Persian, or a range of T-shirts in bright primary colours. Task teams may vary in size from 1:N. *Anyone* can propose a task team.

Task teams operate within a limited charter, defined through negotiation with the administrative board, that defines the scope, authority, expectations, and if appropriate, rewards, of their work. Within the scope of their charter, they are the ultimate decision-making authority. Overlaps in charter between task teams will be recognised and resolved by the administrative board. Failing task teams will also be recognised and may have their charter modified or withdrawn by the administrative board. Charters are strictly limited in length. When a charter expires, then it may be renewed with the agreement of the charter holder and administrative board (for example, in respect of admin or other maintenance activities). *Within the limits of their charter, task teams operate like mini open-source projects, with all the support of the surrounding %WIKITOOLNAME% ecosystem*.

The administrative board is made up of an odd number of community representatives, who each have an equal vote. Abstention is *not* permitted, though proxy voting (through another board member) is.

From inception to delivery a task team will draw on the skills of many people, and perhaps other projects. It is a given that the members of a task team will receive the maximum public credit for the work they perform. At this point in time it is unlikely that task teams will form sub-teams, but when they do, those sub-teams will also work under the limited charter system.

Over time, as the same tasks (such as building releases and admin) are repeated, their task team charters will become more refined. But at all times 100% visibility is maintained of *who is expected to do what*, and *where decision making authority resides*.

For example, the existing release management and feature request systems are very compatible with this. Each feature request is a task. The charter for that task will grant checkin rights, and require certain standards of test and documentation.

Each bugfix is a task, which can be covered by a generic charter for bug fixers.

We're aware that it may sound onerous to create these charters; but in practice it's a once-only task. Once charters are established, they can be re-used with only minor modifications. The key points are:
   * the decision-making capability is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution][devolved]] to the people who are actually doing the work. The [[AssociationBoard][administrative board]] is only referred to in cases where there is a lack of clarity, or a deadlock is reached.
   * As charters evolve, they naturally document the processes %WIKITOOLNAME% uses.
   * There is nothing to stop commercial interests proposing task teams. Like any other community member, they get back in proportion to what they put in.

---+++ The power of a task team
   * For all decisions concerning task team matters, the leader of the task team should be addressed via email. Alternatively two members of the task team can draw decisions like the task team leader if they do not respond within 5 business days.
   * The Task team leaders draw decisions together with at least one other person of the task team. Those decisions are final, as long as nobody objects within 14 days of publication of the decision on foswiki.org. If at least 2 Foswiki-members object, a public voting for the decision shall be performed. The result is binding for the community.

---++ Examples
See TaskTeamExamples

---++ How do I form a task team?
 *Anyone* can form a task team. Here's how: 
   1 Visit CreateNewTaskTeam and fill out the form there
   1 The [[AssociationBoard][administrative board]] will see the form and act to rubber-stamp the charter. The administrative board will raise any questions, observations or conditions in the proposal topic.

---++ Task teams awaiting charter
The following task teams are in definition, and have not had their charter agreed yet.
%SEARCH{"form.name='TaskTeamForm' AND Status='Charter under development' AND name!='TaskTeamTemplate'" type="query" nonoise="on" format="   * $topic"}%

---++ Active task teams
The following task teams are currently working.
%SEARCH{"form.name='TaskTeamForm' AND Status='Running' AND name!='TaskTeamTemplate'" type="query" nonoise="on" format="   * $topic"}%

---++ Thanks to everyone who helped
This is a list of the task-teams that have completed their work. Well done, all!
%SEARCH{"form.name='TaskTeamForm' AND Status='Complete' AND name!='TaskTeamTemplate'" type="query" nonoise="on" format="   * $topic"}%
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Topic revision: r10 - 09 Dec 2009, CrawfordCurrie
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