Ouishare

Sun 30 Jul 2017 1:48PM

UPDATING OUR VALUES : PROPOSAL AND NEXT STEPS

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)

Toni Blanco Fri 15 Sep 2017 4:01PM

Dear all,
sorry @maud1 I am late to this discussion; I just joined the Loomio very recently.

Find here the link of an excerpt of the conference paper I presented this summer at EGOS (European Group of Organization Studies), the most important conference in Europe on Management/Organization Theory.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19QOSG8MibMhn7nJn4ykRHr7mJ48DO6-C_8UBctsuBdo/edit?usp=sharing

Although quotes and wording is based in X-Net and Las Indias, (because those are the communities where I did my ethnographic work), I also had in mind Ouishare and Enspiral when I wrote it, so the model is equally valid for Ouishare.

Please note that according to the model, and in a parallel and independent inquiry, I found that Ouishare could be summarized in four values (I say axiological principles because we academics are nasty and love ridiculous nuances), and you've reduced your list to five that are pretty close to those that I selected for my model:

Permanent Beta --> Bricolage

Openness+Collaboration --> Abundance

Proactivity --> Plurarch

Care --> Generativity

By no means I suggest that you should take this four, because I took this wording from those specific groups in order to get a better feedback (which, by the way, was very good). On the contrary, I may change my wording depending on your final decision, if I like your solution better :-)

I am sharing this with you because I think that it can helpto think Ouishare 4-5 values as a SYSTEM: see how different they are, and how each value complements each other. It also may help to write the short explanation of each one, choosing wisely the related words/values that your are leaving outside.

Of course, any feedback on this text will be welcomed. I am currently reviewing this and writing a non-academic version. so I will treasure any comment.

Hugo Guyader Sat 16 Sep 2017 4:39PM

Very interesting ethnographic work @toniblanco! I am also curious about your academic affiliation ;)

Toni Blanco Sat 16 Sep 2017 11:05PM

Thanks Hugo
I am currently an associate professor at EADA Business School. The director of research at EADA is Boyd Cohen.

Jon Schull Sat 16 Sep 2017 2:31PM

@toniblanco Thanks for sharing. I like your diagram and approach. Your four values certainly resonate with me for e-NABLE.

But it's not clear to me that your mappings make sense.

For example, the essential element of Care, for example is compassionate humanism. I think Abundance makes that possible, and necessary. Generativity may be a side effect, but not an esential one.

I'd b interested in discussing this. Where are are you located (online or in space? I'm in New York City through Monday, and live in Rochester NY).

Toni Blanco Sat 16 Sep 2017 10:58PM

Thank you Jon,
to choose one value over other, when you want to keep the list short, is a matter of how to build the more inspiring narrative, and what do you want to stress to reach the people you want to reach. In my model, care is the unavoidable consequence of generativity (as I understand it), but probably the other way around as well. That said, I consider more important the practices that make those values effective, than the values themselves. That is why I think that if you prefer to talk about care in the first place, I think that is valid and maybe wiser, because generativity is not an easy word.

I live in Barcelona (Spain) but we can skype/hangout next week in the morning your time, afternoon my time. I really like e-nable, it would be a pleasure to know more about it.

Maud Thu 21 Sep 2017 11:20AM

Dear all,

Sorry I'm a bit slow at facilitating that discussion, busy taking care of my newborn...
Still, some presentation was prepared for munich summit, sharing a synthesis of your valuable feedbacks :

About the list of values

Pro-activity : need for a better word. Agency has been proposed but seems not easily understood by all without a description. → Suggestion is to put Do-ocracy instead (already in our vocabulary)

MPRL : some people report to miss it as a value, but no strong objection it seems. → Suggestion is to make it more obvious in the description of values (something like the best collaboration happens when people meet in real life ?)

Play : the playfulness has disappeared from this new set and can be missed indeed; cf Amanda’s reactions. → Suggestion is to combine it somehow with Permanent Beta (make it more visible in the description)

On the descriptions
Need for shorter / catchy descriptions, at least for external communication. See Jon Schul’s propositions.

As a result, and before communcation works on the wording, the updated list would be something like :

Permanent Beta : Always a work in progress. Learn by doing, improve by reflecting and iterating. +Give feedback and keep playing.
Do-ocracy : Don't wait to Do good. Celebrate autonomy and initiative-taking. Actions speak louder than words. + finding way to "tone down" this autonomy to have a glimpse of interdependence from the network?
Openness :
Open-minded: Open to new ideas.
Inclusiveness: Open to diverse people with diverse perspectives.
Transparency: Open access to inner workings. (& add decision making ?)
OpenSource: We share.
Collaboration : Together we go further. (and add something like “it’s even stronger when we MPRL”)
Care : Care for each other, care for the commons, care for the planet. Three legs of a single stool + _ Take care of your own journey_

NEXT STEPS

Validating the new set of values
Autumn 2017 : “branding” the new set → need for a team to find final wording of descriptions of values for internal & external communication and Update website and other supports speaking about the values
2017/2018 : Possible to run regional workshops on Values & Practices (Maud ok to help on designing and coordinating workshops and collecting results from november)
Documenting the process of updating Ouishare Values / writing an article… → Maud (2018)
To be decided : budget for this work (had been discussed in april in OS France)

Poll Created Thu 21 Sep 2017 11:24AM

Validating the new values set of OuiShare Closed Sat 30 Sep 2017 10:09PM

Outcome

by Maud Wed 4 Oct 2017 2:43PM

Thanks all for your reactions and valuable inputs.

The updated set of values of OuiShare has been validated : Permanent Beta, Do-ocracy, Openness, Collaboration & Care are how we want to do things. Being playful and meeting people in real life will be present in the descriptions.

Next steps :

update the handbook : Maud / in the coming weeks
update the website : (and certainly do some rewording of the descriptions) --> will take place in the website project presented by Hélène V, beginning of 2018
documenting the process : Maud + team, before end of the year
regional workshops on how we live and work accordingly to our values / from values to practices --> whenever you want, Maud will be happy to help design and coordinate those workshops, if we have local volunteers to organise those workshops.

Taking into accounts the different feedbacks here is the adjusted proposal (please see my last comment for more details). The wording may evolve lightly when a communication team will work on it.

Permanent Beta : Always a work in progress. Learn by doing, improve by reflecting and iterating. +Give feedback and keep playing.

Do-ocracy : Don't wait to Do good. Celebrate autonomy and initiative-taking. Actions speak louder than words. + finding way to "tone down" this autonomy to have a glimpse of interdependence from the network?

Openness : Open-minded: Open to new ideas. Inclusiveness: Open to diverse people with diverse perspectives. Transparency: Open access to inner workings. (&amp; add decision making ?) OpenSource: We share.

Collaboration : Together we go further. (and add something like “it’s even stronger when we MPRL”)

Care : Care for each other, care for the commons, care for the planet. Three legs of a single stool + Take care of your own journey