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: ''This is an on-going experiment in working together. Modify this document to work for you.''
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{{:ConsensusPoll:Distributed Planning Game}}
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== Purpose ==
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* To encourage direct participation by everyone in establishing what we work on and the priorities.
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== Goals ==
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* To create a process for handling work done in the Development, Content and Community such that everyone involved in those areas knows the current '''[[AboutUs Planning Game/Plan of Record|Plan of Record]]''' and can contribute ideas and help prioritize the upcoming "Plan of Record"
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* To accommodate people who are working in any geographical location and any '''time zone'''
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* To maintain a natural working '''rythym'''
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* To allow '''scaling''' to larger numbers of people
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== Plan ==
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====Planning Cycle====
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Each month:
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* 1st - 15th
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* 16th - last day of month
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==== Project Manager ====
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A project manager is a person or a small group (if pairing) who does the following:
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* '''During the period''':
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** <s>Seeks '''input''' from all project organizers/people working in that area. This can take place in the form of smaller group meetings, individual calls, [[IRC]], etc.</s> - '''This should be done by individuals on the wiki.'''
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** Notes any new projects - '''What does this mean? Notes it where?''' (on summary pages like this one - [[Ray]])
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** Matches new projects to a '''[[AboutUs Strategic Goals|Strategic Goal]]'''
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** Submits new goals at the next '''Strategic Goal Review''' if the new projects do not fall within existing goals - '''What is a strategic goal review?''' (Not sure - [[Ray]])
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** Breaks down work into manageable '''chunks''' i.e. tasks with measurable goals
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** Puts '''time estimates''' and '''$ estimates''' on the work
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** '''Prioritizes''' projects and work chunks - '''So one person is deciding what everyone works on now? This position isn't called a summerizer, it's called a project manager.''' (no, that's not what is meant. And also, we picked the name summarizer because project manager already means a lot of things so a fresh name gives us the ability to define it for ourselves - [[Ray]])
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** Encourages those who are close to individual projects to improve the '''project pages''' such that each one contains:
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*** '''Tasks or Description''' - A complete description of the project.
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* '''Who'''- All people (content and community) contributing to a specific project.
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*'''How can I help?''' - A list of tasks to be done and meetings.For a particular project,virtual meetings will be arranged.Every one who is contributing would send notes and when they decide to produce a final note,one person would be set up for making details of what they have finally decided.These notes may be the [[AboutUs Planning Game/Plan of Record|Plan of Record]],from the community,the content or from the developers side.
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*'''Why?''' - Description of the task reflecting ''Our Values''.Benefits of the projects would be highlighted when we define the 'tasks(description of the project)'.Basically it is relating and tying the items.Its showing basic business reasons for the tasks.
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*'''Done When''' - A complete description of the expected results.
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* '''NextStep'''- It would include moving to next number of hours at the end of each period.Showing period of work and celebrates and retires items that were completed in the prior period
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* '''Task Lead''' The person who has provided the description of task page.The person responsible for project QA and for declaring the project done.
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* '''Discussion''' - A place for everyone to discuss the project and it's progress.
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* '''Useful Links''' - Links to the pages affected or referenced (templates).
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*'''Resource Estimate''' - An estimate of time and $ to be expended.
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* '''Task Evaluation''' - A summary of how the project went, the resources expended, the start date and the sign off date
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* '''Deferred Projects'''Points to and plans for the new '''[[AboutUs Planning Game/Plan of Record|Plan of Record]]''' for the upcoming period
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==Discussion==
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* No mention of the planning game 3X5 cards are they gone from the system? [[User:John Stanton|John]] 20:00, 14 August 2007 (PDT)
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** I think cards can be created and used for local meetings anywhere, but working in a distributed environment is going to require that the overall list be kept on the wiki. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* Who are the "Summarizers"? [[User:John Stanton|John]] 20:00, 14 August 2007 (PDT)
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** We tried to come up with a role for the people who help keep the overall summary view of things organized. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* Who can create new projects? [[User:John Stanton|John]] 20:12, 14 August 2007 (PDT)
* Why wasn't this created as a consensus poll so everyone could contribute and bring new ideas? [[User:John Stanton|John]] 20:12, 14 August 2007 (PDT)
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** That's not a bad idea. We were simply brainstorming while in Lahore.
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* The planning cycle is unclear, does it begin on a specific day or is the new '''[[AboutUs Planning Game/Plan of Record|Plan of Record]]''' distributed on a specific day and how long does the the "Summarizer" have to create the new Plan of Record? [[User:John Stanton|John]] 20:22, 14 August 2007 (PDT)
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** I'm guessing that a good way for this to work would be that during any given period the plan of record for the next period is being worked on by everyone who wants to contribute to it. At the end of the period the summarizer summarizes the work done, retired the old plan of record, announces completed work and puts the new plan of record into place. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* It seems this has come from out of the blue and is in direct contradiction to figuring out how to work together. I wonder if it is meant to show the Portland office what the Lahore office feels like when decisions are getting made without input? [[MarkDilley]]
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** No, please don't read so much into this, it was simply an attempt to figure out how we might organize work in a more distributed environment. We onboarded a bunch of folks in Lahore and need a way to stay in touch with the work they are doing. Doing it "off wiki" via Skype and index cards that not everyone can touch is difficult. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* Agree with all the above statements. I also feel like this was done completely behind my back and had all the work I've been trying to do up to this point stomped all over. - [[ScottKeeler|Scott Keeler]] <span class="plainlinks">[{{SERVER}}{{localurl:ScottKeeler}} http://images.aboutus.org/images/1/1a/Comment_green.gif]</span>
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** The idea of doing it on the wiki was so that everyone could see the plan. This is an attempt to iteratively improve on what you've done. This is wiki, change is cheap, etc. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* How many lists of projects do we need? Now if I want to edit a prioritized list I have to do it in several different places. This doesn't appear to be well thought out. - [[ScottKeeler|Scott Keeler]] <span class="plainlinks">[{{SERVER}}{{localurl:ScottKeeler}} http://images.aboutus.org/images/1/1a/Comment_green.gif]</span>
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** Then help us think it out - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
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* I'm feeling a lot of systems/process burnout and frustration on these things. We've now tried a number of different process, all of which worked to an extent, but then we come up with a "bigger better thing" and leave the old ones in the dust without really giving them a chance. Every 4-6 weeks we have to get used to a new system when not everyone was on the same page with the old one. [[TakKendrick]]
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:* I feel the biggest problem we're having here is one of communication and all these processes are now muddying the pool instead of clarifying/helping with the communication blocks. [[TakKendrick|Tak]]
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:: Yes, I know there may be some process burnout, but when we open a new office and grow the company as significantly as we have we are going to need to revise and improve our processes. That's a natural growing pain. Building [[AboutUs]] with new principles and ideas is going to be challenging. Continuing to address the issues and improve our process is a key part of that and I don't know another way to do it. If we stay with the status quo, it will be difficult for folks outside the Portland office to participate. - [[User:Ray King|Ray]] | <small>[[User talk:Ray King|talk]]</small>
