Loomio
Sun 30 Jul 2017 1:48PM

UPDATING OUR VALUES : PROPOSAL AND NEXT STEPS

M Maud Public Seen by 188

Hello everyone,

Sorry this has taken us a (really) long time, but better late than never! You can check here the original post about this project

The values workshop in Lisbon at last summit was really great, with a lot of convergence with data from the survey. If you missed it or want to go deeper in the content, you can read

We now want to share three key things with you

  • Our key takeways from survey & workshop
  • Our proposal for a new list of values
  • Our vision of the next steps

Key takeaways

  • There is still a tension between two functions of values: (1) describing how we actually do things (representational), and (2) setting an aspiration for how we would like to do things (aspirational). This tension doesn’t necessary need to be resolved, but has been important to acknowledge.
  • Permanent Beta is super important. It is almost a supra-value (it’s now become the new ‘tagline’)
  • There are currently too many values, -- with overlaps or confusion between various values -- with some values provoking more contestation and debates than others, or more linked to the notion of vision / mission of OuiShare, such as “Impact”
  • Some important values are missing

New list of OuiShare values

Combining our analysis of the survey and workshop, we have a proposal for a new list of values. If you want to refresh your memory on what the current list and descriptions are, see here

Permanent Beta

  • Our learnings from our work : a strong consent around this value and a lot of comments on how experimentation, feedback, continuous learning are important in Ouishare culture / for ouishare people.
  • Draft for a description : OuiShare is an ongoing experiment. With curiosity and an open mindset, we strive to continuously try new things and challenge our assumptions. We believe in learning by doing and improving through reflexivity and iteration.

Proactivity *

* In lack of a better word, anyone else has a better suggestion?

  • Our learnings from our work : this notion of getting things done and not asking permission to start something is really strong in our culture (we often put forward "do-ocraty"). So in our view it also includes the notion of independence when we take it at the individual levels. The notion of OuiShare being an independant organization regarding businesses doesn't really fall in the value part in our opinion. It may reflect in the openness part.
  • Draft for a description : Change starts from people. We believe that actions speak louder than words; so at OuiShare actions and initiative are respected and rewarded. We encourage people to get involved, start projects and take responsibility. While we love working together, we all value our own autonomy. [ we may want to add something about “walk the talk”

Openness

  • Our learnings from our work : We found a big overlap in people's mind between these 3 values : Openness, transparency, and inclusion (which was rather seen as diversity). In our opinion Openness reflects the best how we do or try to do.
  • Draft for a description : We believe in the power of openness; towards people, among ourselves and with our content and learnings. We welcome those who want to join us, valuing diversity in approaches, perspectives and backgrounds. We believe in open decision making. We strive for open communication so that everyone can learn who we are, and why, how and what we do. We produce in open source and share our learnings widely.

Collaboration

  • Our learnings from our work : This is one of the "new" value, in the meaning that it wasn't expressed formally even if it was precedently enclosed in our mission (collaborative society...). It's quite present in the comments in the survey (learning together / community / etc..).
  • Draft for a description : Together we go further. It’s that simple.

Care

  • Our learnings from our work : This is the value that was most proposed at a new one. We have the feeling that MPRL is one way of doing it (taking care of our relationships), and that play is also part of it (we take care of ourselves by working on things we enjoy, in a way we like / have fun)
  • Draft for a description : We have learnt the importance of care, mutual support and solidarity. We always strive to remember to take care of ourselves, of each other, of the commons we are building, and of the planet. We believe these dimensions are intrinsically linked and dependent on each other.

_ Why we took out “Impact” ? _
_Impact raised a lot of debates in the survey. It’s more related to why we do things than to how, because it’s not something we measure. It raised the question on what is Ouishare vision and mission today. Anyone willing to take on this project? :-) _

Next steps

Step 1 : Validation

This is only a starting point, so we open up discussion here this summer for:

  • Do these 5 values reflect what OuiShare is and aims to be?
  • Are the descriptions clear and complete in your mind ?

We’re waiting for your meaningful comments in this loomio post if general, and in this document when you have suggestions on the wording itself : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dV5l0Jbm4jrDNVbrCWptYzm3r0DpKTtgk8JG82w6nSY/edit?usp=sharing

Tell us if you feel something important for OuiShare is missing (if you think you or OuiShare “cannot live without it”), or something is detrimental to OuiShare. The right wording may be then found by “communication” people ?

Before next summit it would be great to validate this adjusted list, after having taken into account your reactions and objections.

Step 2 : Communication

Once there is a consent on the values list, we will need to update our different communication documents / channels. Are there volunteers to work on that ? The descriptions are just small ideas for what these could be - we are not comms experts to we’d really like it if others could finalise those :)

Step 3 : Implementation

In our plans, the work didn’t stop with setting a new list of values, but should be followed by regional workshops where communities could have in depth discussions on how these values are or can be embodied in concrete practices. We could then make a book of best practices based on these discussions and suggestions.
How do you feel about it ? If any coordination is needed about it, for the moment neither Elena or Maud can commit to this work. Maud may be back in November to work with you on it, if needed :-)

The "value project team" (Elena, Maud + Joachim)

JS

Jon Schull Sun 30 Jul 2017 2:34PM

I'm new here, so please forgive me if I'm "off-key". But I thought it might be useful to provide a newbie's distillation of these values, written for the other newbies who may not have the patience or cultural background to get all the nuances.

Permaent Beta
* Always a work in progress. Learn by doing, improve by reflecting and iterating.

Proactivity
* Do-ocracy: Don't wait to Do good. Celebrate autonomy and initiative-taking. Actions speak louder than words.

Openness:
* Open-minded: Open to new ideas.

* Inclusiveness: Open to diverse people with diverse perspectives.

* Transparence: Open access to inner workings.
* OpenSource: We share. [I added that!]

Collaboration:
* Together we go further.

Care
* Care for each other, care for the commons, care for the planet. Three legs of a single stool.

TB

Tiberius Brastaviceanu Sun 30 Jul 2017 5:39PM

Great work !

These values resonate with me and feel appropriate for other open and collaborative organizations that I have interfaced with in the past. I think you're describing this new emerging culture here... This is not just Ouishare specific!

F

Francesca Fri 4 Aug 2017 10:44AM

Awesome summary @maud1 @eledenaro and @joachimlohkamp1 !! I think we're getting very close to something we can update now. It's excellent that the values are much fewer but have more depth, because we will all have an easier time remembering them then :).

In terms of the wording, I would like to propose the word agency instead of proactivity, which means something very similar and is less clunky than proactivity.

For refining the descriptions of each value, could we do that in a google doc?

M

Maud Wed 9 Aug 2017 2:51PM

Thanks @jonschull , @tiberiusbrastavice and @francesca for your first comments. Following your suggestion @francesca here is a google doc where people can add comments and suggestions : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dV5l0Jbm4jrDNVbrCWptYzm3r0DpKTtgk8JG82w6nSY/edit?usp=sharing

Please @jonschull and @francesca can you add in the doc the comments / suggestion you made in this loomio thread ?

JS

Jon Schull Wed 9 Aug 2017 4:09PM

Done. Thanks for asking!;

M

Poll Created Wed 9 Aug 2017 2:55PM

Updating our values Closed Sun 10 Sep 2017 8:02PM

I have read the proposal on the new set of OuiShare Value and shared my reaction and comments

Results

Results Option Voters
Yes 30 TB F AJ AC JL A JM DL TD EEO MB M J DF AAT MF MB S CGD MP
No 0  
Undecided 200 AI NW EP JD MB ADG JL DDB DR JK SC SJ ML GR BM JS BT IS BJM EG

30 of 230 people have participated (13%)

AC

Albert Cañigueral
Yes
Thu 24 Aug 2017 4:43PM

Thumbs up for the amazing work and the synthesis!

AJ

Amanda Jansen
Yes
Thu 31 Aug 2017 9:00PM

I miss PLAY.. ! ;-) Good set of criteria. I feel also something is still missing..

JM

Juho Makkonen Sat 12 Aug 2017 11:19AM

I really like this new set! Easier for everyone to remember, and focuses on the most essential stuff.

Proactivity as a word is somehow weakest to me (and it seems others share this feeling as this is mentioned in this post). How about "Empowerment"? Wikipedia definition: "The term empowerment refers to measures designed to increase the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority."

I think it captures accurately the "not asking for permission" part, but I'm not completely sure whether it captures also the "do, don't talk" part. Still, I would prefer it instead of "proactivity". But I'm fine with "proactivity" too, so no need to open this discussion again, as it has been going on for a while already. :)

TD

Thomas Dönnebrink Mon 14 Aug 2017 1:09PM

Thumb-up. Like the new set: More focused/concise/catchy. My only reservation is with the word "proactivity". Without going into reasoning: it feels like it doesn't fit well & needs explanation. Like Juho's Wikipedia definition of empowerment and him suggestiong this term. Maybe "(self)empowerment" which IMHO would also cover "do, don't talk/wait" part.

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