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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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.
[[Trustroots]] is organised like a '''do-ocracy''' and we embrace a culture of participation. We encourage each member of the community to use their right to take on responsibilities. We understand that not everyone is comfortable with this way of working right away, but we think it's a good way to move forward in a [[volunteer]]ing environment where no one is forced to do anything.


== Trustroots Foundation and volunteers ==
== 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.
Legally, [[Trustroots Foundation]] owns and operates [[Trustroots]], but the actual decisions and work are taken and done by the active volunteers.


* Ideally the foundation does as little as possible, just whatever is legally essential to ensure longevity plus basics of volunteer and member happiness.
* 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.
* 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.
* Some level of discussions and politics are inevitable to avoid creating cliques that exclude others. Meetings and discussions aren’t the goal within itself though, 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 [[:hitch:|Hitchwiki]].
Organizations that work in similar ways are Burning Man, Rainbow Gatherings etc. It's also a very common way of working for online projects, especially in free open source projects (which Trustroots is as well) and wikis, for example [[:hitch:|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.


We value an attitude of getting things done. Arguments about minor issues shouldn't get in the way of the work and achieving more important results. Where suitable we believe decisions should be taken by those who do the work.


== Adhocracy ==
== 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 <q>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.</q>
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 [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhocracy ''Wikipedia''] <q>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.</q>


== Consensus ==
== Consensus ==


We avoid votes and voting. We prefer reaching consensus.
We have so far managed to avoid votes and voting. We prefer reaching consensus.


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


 
== Not: "I can do whatever I want" ==
== 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 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.
It's also important to consider impact and reversibility when you want to do something.
For example, editing the [[Wiki]] is not going to have a huge impact and can in most cases be be done without any discussion. [[Wiki.trustroots.org:Create_account|Check here how to create an account]], log in and [https://wiki.trustroots.org/w/index.php?title=Do-ocracy&action=edit click edit].


E.g. editing the [[wiki]] is not going to have much short term impact and can in many cases be be done without any discussion. On the other end of the spectrum, implementing [[references]] 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. In such cases discussions, consensus and collaboration is essential.


== Other organizations ==


== Other organizations ==
Some organizations are using similar principles:
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Man#Principles Burning Man]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Gathering#Social_aspects Rainbow Gathering]


Other hospitality exchange networks have different structures:
* [[Philosophy of BeWelcome|BeWelcome is a democracy]], with regular voting and discussions. Official French non-profit.
* [[Philosophy of BeWelcome|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.
* [[CouchSurfing]] was run by a small group in a sort of oligarchy. In 2011 they became for-profit and up for grabs for venture capital.
* [[Hospitality Club]] has been a dictatorship from the start.  No official organization, sole proprietor.
* [[Hospitality Club]] is probably best described as having 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.
* [[WarmShowers]] is a US non-profit with the 501(c)(3) charity status. It's run by a board of 5 members with little clarity about community involvement.


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
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* https://communitywiki.org/wiki/DoOcracy
* https://communitywiki.org/wiki/DoOcracy
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhocracy
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhocracy
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Shock
[[Category:Concepts]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 2 August 2020

Trustroots is organised like a do-ocracy and we embrace a culture of participation. We encourage each member of the community to use their right to take on responsibilities. We understand that not everyone is comfortable with this way of working right away, 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 the actual decisions and work are taken and done by the active volunteers.

  • 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 avoid creating cliques that exclude others. Meetings and discussions aren’t the goal within itself though, they’re just means to an end.

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

We value an attitude of getting things done. Arguments about minor issues shouldn't get in the way of the work and achieving more important results. Where suitable we believe decisions should be taken by those 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 have so far managed to avoid votes and voting. We prefer reaching consensus.

Not: "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. For example, editing the Wiki is not going to have a huge impact and can in most cases be be done without any discussion. Check here how 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. In such cases discussions, consensus and collaboration is essential.

Other organizations

Some organizations are using similar principles:

Other hospitality exchange networks have different structures:

  • BeWelcome is a democracy, with regular voting and discussions. Official French non-profit.
  • CouchSurfing was run by a small group in a sort of oligarchy. In 2011 they became for-profit and up for grabs for venture capital.
  • Hospitality Club is probably best described as having 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 with little clarity about community involvement.

Further reading