One Organizational Model - Revision history

Arnulf: updated

2009-10-01T16:15:22Z

updated

Wiki-Mpg at 16:32, 12 June 2006

2006-06-12T16:32:19Z

Wiki-Mpg: just some random thoughts

2006-06-01T21:57:11Z

just some random thoughts

New page

''As people were talking about forming local and special interest groups the other day, I made notes about an object-like model that could be used to "describe" the organizatinal structure of Foundation. Here they are, if only for posterity.''

For the sake of discussion, let us use an object-like model to describe organizational strucutre of the Foundation.

The '''Project''' type has the following properties:
* is initially chartered by the Board
* has a Management Committee of some sort, with at least one elected Foundation Member
* must periodically report status to the Board
* additionally, the WebComm folk can define some common infrastructural properties for '''Project ''' objects, such as Wiki space, mailing lists, etc

Now, several types can be derived from the base '''Project''' class:

* '''CodeProject'''- specifically concerned with code development work, e.g. OSSIM development
* '''LocalInterestGroup''' - specifically concerned with bringing together individuals from a common geographic region, e.g. Ottowa or Brazil
* '''SpecialInterestGroup''' - specifically concerned with bringing together individuals with a common geo-related interest, e.g. GRASS users

There are also types derived from Project which are to be instantiated as singletons:
* '''IncubationComm'''
* '''FunCom'''
* '''VisCom'''
* '''WebCom'''
* '''EduCom'''
* '''OpenDataCom'''

Given this, I then see the Foundation as really being a "federation" of '''Project''' objects, all of which share certain common properties. One of the underlying intents is that this model might help us better understand -- and possibly simplify -- the Board's role to just the following areas:
* identify new strategic opportunities, and charter off a new Project as required
* oversight over all projects, to make sure they are following OSGeo's goals and principles
* control of budget and allocation of funds

''Note that nothing in the above is intended to "change" the Foundation -- this is just a way of thinking about things.''

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''As people were talking about forming local and special interest groups the other day, I made notes about an object-like model that could be used to "describe" the organizatinal structure of Foundation.  Here they are, if only for posterity.''
+'''''This is not an official OSGeo policy page but an excellent reference to good practice.''' Michael Gerlek made the following notes about an object-like model that could be used to "describe" the organizational structure of the Foundation. It was slightly modified three years later to reflect common practice.''
-For the sake of discussion, let us use an object-like model to describe organizational strucutre of the Foundation.
+For the sake of discussion, let us use an object-like model to describe organizational structure of the Foundation.
 The '''Project''' type has the following properties:
-* is initially chartered by the Board
+* to become an official [[Local Chapter]] it has to be initially chartered by the Board
-* has a Management Committee of some sort, with at least one elected Foundation Member
+* it should have a Management Committee of some sort
-* must periodically report status to the Board
+* official Local Chapter must periodically report status to the Board
-* additionally, the WebComm folk can define some common infrastructural properties for '''Project ''' objects, such as Wiki space, mailing lists, etc
+* additionally, [[WebCom]] and [[SAC]] can provide some common infrastructural properties for '''Project ''' objects, such as Wiki space, mailing lists, etc.
-New projects should be subject to an "incubation" process.
+New software projects are subject to the OSGeo [[Incubation]] process.
-Now, several types can be derived from the base '''Project''' class:
+Several other types can be derived from the base '''Project''' class:
-* '''CodeProject'''- specifically concerned with code development work, e.g. OSSIM development
+* '''CodeProject'''- specifically concerned with code development work
-* '''LocalInterestGroup''' - specifically concerned with bringing together individuals from a common geographic region, e.g. Ottowa or Brazil
+* '''LocalInterestGroup''' - specifically concerned with bringing together individuals from a common geographic region, e.g. Ottawa or Brazil
 * '''SpecialInterestGroup''' - specifically concerned with bringing together individuals with a common geo-related interest, e.g. GRASS users
-There are also types derived from Project which are to be instantiated as singletons:
+There is a limited number derived from ''Project'' which have been instantiated as singletons, they are known as the OSGeo committees:
-* '''IncubationComm'''
+* [[Incubation]]
-* '''FunCom'''
+* [[Marketing]]
-* '''VisCom'''
+* [[WebCom]]
-* '''WebCom'''
+* [[EduCom]]
-* '''EduCom'''
+* [[geodata]]
-Given this, I then see the Foundation as really being a "federation" of '''Project''' objects, all of which share certain common properties.  One of the underlying intents is that this model might help us better understand -- and possibly simplify -- the Board's role to just the following areas:
+OSGeo has developed into being a "federation" of '''Project''' objects, all of which share certain common properties.  One of the underlying intents is that this model might help us better understand -- and possibly simplify -- the Board's role to just the following areas:
-* identify new strategic opportunities, and charter off a new Project as required
+* identify new strategic opportunities, and charter off new Projects as required
 * oversight over all projects, to make sure they are following OSGeo's goals and principles
 * control of budget and allocation of funds