Do-ocracy: Difference between revisions

[[Wiki.trustroots.org]] is an independent wiki with information for people who are actively exchanging hospitality.
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It's also important to consider impact and reversibility when you want to do something.
It's also important to consider impact and reversibility when you want to do something.


E.g. editing the [[wiki]] is not going to have much short term impact and can in most cases be be done without any discussion.  Just ask [[:trustroots:profile/guaka]] to create an account, log in and click edit.
E.g. editing the [[wiki]] is not going to have much short term impact and can in most cases be be done without any discussion.  Just ask [[:trustroots:profile/guaka]] to create an account, log in and [https://wiki.trustroots.org/w/index.php?title=Do-ocracy&action=edit click edit].


At the other end of the spectrum, implementing [[references]] requires advanced coding and UI/UX and is going to impact almost everyone and is almost impossible to revert.
At the other end of the spectrum, implementing [[references]] requires advanced coding and UI/UX and is going to impact almost everyone and is almost impossible to revert.

Revision as of 13:28, 27 July 2020

Trustroots functions like a do-ocracy. We embrace a culture of participation. We encourage each member of the community to feel a right and a duty to take on responsibilities. We understand that not everyone is comfortable with this way of working but we think it's a good way to move forward in a volunteering environment where no one is forced to do anything.


Trustroots Foundation and volunteers

Legally Trustroots Foundation owns and operates Trustroots but actual decisions and operations are taken by those who are working on making things happen.

  • Ideally the foundation does as little as possible, just whatever is legally essential to ensure longevity plus basics of volunteer and member happiness.
  • Ideally volunteers do what makes themselves and members happy.
  • Some level of discussions and politics are inevitable to ensure that we know that we don't exclude folks, but we don't really want to spend too much time on this. Meetings and discussions aren’t the goal within itself, they’re just means to an end.

Organizations that work in similar ways are Burning Man, Rainbow Gatherings. It's also a very common way of working for online projects, especially free open source projects (which Trustroots is as well) and wikis, for example Hitchwiki.

We value getting things done attitude. Arguments about minor issues shouldn't get in the way of getting work done and achieving more important results. Use the tools and methods which help getting the job done. Let decisions be taken by people who do the work.


Adhocracy

Another term that is very much related to do-ocracy but got out of fashion is adhocracy. Most of the concepts and ideas around adhocracy apply just as well to Trustroots. According to Wikipedia Adhocracy is a flexible, adaptable and informal form of organization that is defined by a lack of formal structure. It operates in an opposite fashion to a bureaucracy.

Consensus

We avoid votes and voting. We prefer reaching consensus.

https://opensource.guide/building-community/#focus-on-the-journey-not-the-destination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_consensus


It doesn't mean: "I can do whatever I want"

It doesn't mean: "I can do whatever I want", it's more like "I can choose how this thing we discussed is done".

It's also important to consider impact and reversibility when you want to do something.

E.g. editing the wiki is not going to have much short term impact and can in most cases be be done without any discussion. Just ask trustroots:profile/guaka to create an account, log in and click edit.

At the other end of the spectrum, implementing references requires advanced coding and UI/UX and is going to impact almost everyone and is almost impossible to revert.

Other organizations

Some organizations are using similar principles:


Hospitality exchange is mostly not organized as a do-ocracy:

  • BeWelcome is a democracy, with regular voting and discussions. Official French non-profit.
  • CouchSurfing was ran by a small group of people who decided, one could have called it an enlightened dictatorship. In 2011 they sold out.
  • Hospitality Club has been a dictatorship from the start. No official organization, sole proprietor.
  • WarmShowers is a US non-profit with the 501(c)(3) charity status. It's run by a board of 5 members, no clarity about community involvement.

Further reading