On Fri, 2006-03-10 at 12:47 +0800, Jacqueline McNally wrote: > It was a very difficult step for me to take, and there appeared to be > never a right time to send the mail, but when I did act several people > took exception to this action. I have learnt from this issue, that > action, particularly one that may be unpopular, should be done sooner > rather than later.
Speed is only part of the issue. The process needs to be published and transparent. If this was an industrial tribunal in the UK, and Ryan was claiming unfair dismissal he would almost certainly win the case simply on the grounds of lack of due procedure. > Contrary to the belief of some subscribed to this list, I do not act > arbitrarily nor take decisions lightly. OpenOffice.org largely consists > of volunteers over many time zones. Decisions are made slowly so as to > include as many people as possible, and this has been misconstrued as > bureaucracy turning the wheels slowly. I think there is confusion here over the term bureaucracy as if it is always bad. Bureaucracy is a necessary part of life. A blanket term saying all bureaucracy is bad is unhelpful, its getting the right bureaucracy at the right time in the right circumstances that matters. > Where there is time, it is an > effective process as most people who are going to have something say, > do. And those that do, get on with it. > > John, I, and many others here are volunteers. Unlike many subscribers to > this list, I have no affiliations and the only conflict of interest is > my time. This seems to be a side swipe at Ryan being a member of ODF. I think the implication that anyone who is in another organisation, especially another one that has complementary aims to OOo is effectively then unwelcome to work in OOo is incredibly naive. You would be excluding a large sector of the volunteers by doing that and also killing many of the links OOo needs to have an effective viral marketing strategy. I don't know what the big hang up is with Open Document Fellowship. The organisation is part of the Open Document Alliance which includes Sun (and OOo). Are you saying any Sun employees have a conflict of interest too? Sure, many people think they have but that is tolerated so I don't see the logic in singling out one volunteer because he happens to be a member of ODF. > I gain nothing from my activities here except the satisfaction > from working with a successful team and carrying out tasks with new > found colleagues and friends. None of us do. > Naturally, I do not accept the substance of the complaints made to the > CC, and I take exception to the tone of some of the messages posted to > the list. That is apparent, but when you take on a position of responsibility you have to take criticism, it goes with the job. You also need to see the complaints not as a personal attack on you or John but on the fact there is a deficiency in procedures that is quick and easy to fix. Before dismissal - private warning, public (or at least recorded) warning, termination. At each stage with time to put things right. In the case of gross misconduct, suspension pending a hearing. Its really very simple and established in almost every civilised society. Acting quickly simply isn't the issue and might not even be appropriate. React in haste regret at leisure. > Online archives host these discussions so that others may > determine for themselves the contribution that each of us make. > My observation from this incident is that part of our mentoring of new > participants into Marketing Project roles (and OpenOffice.org generally) > requires them to recognise and understand the underlying philosophy or > culture of our project. It is a privilege not a right to be a member, > but I realise that guidelines if they exist are dispersed and not easily > absorbed quickly such that new volunteers may become an effective and > welcomed member of our community. > > To move forward, I would like to ensure that future instances that may > be caused by lack of communication or poor information do not occur and > that therefore, John and I will help MarCons understand their roles. > > The real problem as I see it is that there is a lack of guidelines > for MarCons and others in the project. There is also lack of procedures for dismissal. Anyone, (including yourself) should have fair treatment in the same way you would have if in regular employment. The fact that people volunteer should not make them any less worthy of reasonable treatment. I can draft something out if you want - but I believe the CC should sanction whatever is agreed as its a community wide issue, its not just about the marketing project. > There has also grown a habit of > personal attack and character assasination on the list which are > spoiling this list as a place where people 'want to come to work'. > > There was a time that all subscribers to this list knew each other or > came to know each other through participation in activities together. > The project has grown exponentially, and a greater number of potential > visitors who wish to contribute do not know the culture of the various > projects, especially if they have not participated in an > open-source/free software project prior to finding us at OpenOffice.org. > > I feel that OpenOffice.org's success in promoting OpenOffice.org the > product has led to some of the demand for process and resources, or as a > minimum documenting what many of us take for granted. The preparation of > the "What do MarCons do?" came about as I wished to be consistent in my > response to all that contacted me privately, and in a form that I could > post to this list and elsewhere. > > The basic objective of the OpenOffice.org Marketing Project is to market > OpenOffice.org, remembering that OpenOffice.org is both a product and > project. > > Currently, most people and activities are focussed on marketing the > product. To rectify this imbalance, may I suggest that future > initiatives should include addressing the project/community so that this > is communicated to all stakeholders. For example, since reconsidering > "What do MarCons do?", I think it would be prudent to add: > > * understand the structure and function of the Community Council > * knowledge of open-source and free software especially OpenOffice.org > > For John and I to facilitate and assist those that wish to positively > contribute to the OpenOffice.org Marketing Project we need to be able to > provide guidelines as to how our project works beginning with how it > works now. If other long-standing members would like to assist with > documenting this, please let me know and we'll get underway perhaps > using the wiki. I thought to begin as a set of questions and answers > from which guidelines may then be drawn. I have just finished with a deadline so I have some more time and I am willing to help, but I believe two issues need to be resolved in addition 1. The the question of procedures for revoking a Marcon's status 2. A reply to Ryan's response at being dismissed without any warning. -- Ian Lynch www.theINGOTs.org www.opendocumentfellowship.org www.schoolforge.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
