Gentoo Archives: gentoo-commits

From: "Christina Fullam (musikc)" <musikc@g.o>
To: gentoo-commits@l.g.o
Subject: [gentoo-commits] gentoo commit in xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel: policy.xml
Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:32:06
Message-Id: E1JLJPX-0005FX-D9@stork.gentoo.org
1 musikc 08/02/02 14:32:03
2
3 Modified: policy.xml
4 Log:
5 Update Developer Relations conflict resolution policy
6
7 Revision Changes Path
8 1.18 xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel/policy.xml
9
10 file : http://sources.gentoo.org/viewcvs.py/gentoo/xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel/policy.xml?rev=1.18&view=markup
11 plain: http://sources.gentoo.org/viewcvs.py/gentoo/xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel/policy.xml?rev=1.18&content-type=text/plain
12 diff : http://sources.gentoo.org/viewcvs.py/gentoo/xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel/policy.xml?r1=1.17&r2=1.18
13
14 Index: policy.xml
15 ===================================================================
16 RCS file: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/proj/en/devrel/policy.xml,v
17 retrieving revision 1.17
18 retrieving revision 1.18
19 diff -u -r1.17 -r1.18
20 --- policy.xml 23 May 2007 16:23:46 -0000 1.17
21 +++ policy.xml 2 Feb 2008 14:32:02 -0000 1.18
22 @@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
23
24 <abstract>Developer Relations Policy Guide</abstract>
25
26 -<version>1.1.2</version>
27 -<date>2006-08-27</date>
28 +<version>1.1.3</version>
29 +<date>2008-02-02</date>
30
31 <chapter>
32 <title>Conflict resolution policy</title>
33 @@ -18,13 +18,12 @@
34 <body>
35
36 <p>
37 -While conflicts serious enough to require developer relations
38 -involvement are rare, it's inevitable that developers will clash to
39 -varying degrees. It's essential that the developer relations team find
40 -fair and impartial resolutions to inter-developer problems. Although
41 -all situations differ and exercising good judgment is necessary, these
42 -guidelines are intended to define the most acceptable course of
43 -action.
44 +While conflicts serious enough to require Developer Relations involvement are
45 +rare, it's inevitable that developers will clash to varying degrees. It's
46 +essential that the Developer Relations team find fair and impartial resolutions
47 +to inter-developer problems. Although all situations differ and exercising
48 +good judgment is necessary, these guidelines are intended to define the most
49 +acceptable course of action.
50 </p>
51
52 </body>
53 @@ -35,38 +34,42 @@
54 <body>
55
56 <p>
57 -Developer relations should only be involved in a conflict when other
58 -attempts to solve the issue have failed. Developers should attempt
59 -polite discussion relating to the matter at hand to resolve conflict
60 -between themselves. Developers within a single top level project
61 -(TLP) engaged in conflict may wish to consult with the TLP
62 -manager. Although TLP managers are not necessarily qualified to
63 -resolve personal disputes, technical issues resulting in conflict can
64 -often be resolved within the TLP without Developer Relations
65 -involvement. Developer relations becomes involved when the above methods
66 -have failed. Any member of the Developer Relations Conflicts Resolution
67 -Subproject may work with the conflicting parties to resolve the conflict;
68 -the Developer Relations member who takes this role should make clear that
69 -he or she is taking control of the conflict in order to prevent miscommunication.
70 -This does not mean that the Developer Relations member in control may not
71 -ask others for assistance.
72 +Developer Relations should only be involved in a conflict when other attempts
73 +to solve the issue have failed. Developers are encouraged to try to resolve the
74 +issue amongst themselves in a civil manner. Developers within a project
75 +engaged in a personal conflict may wish to consult with the project lead.
76 +Although leads are not necessarily qualified to resolve personal disputes,
77 +technical issues resulting in conflict can often be resolved within the project
78 +without Developer Relations involvement.
79 </p>
80
81 <p>
82 -Issues not necessarily related to personal conflict, such as
83 -intentional or repeated policy breaches, malicious or abrasive
84 -behavior to users or developers, or similar developer-specific
85 -behavioral problems should be brought directly to Developer Relations
86 -via <mail link="devrel@g.o">devrel@g.o</mail>. These
87 -should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by Developer Relations
88 -and may require disciplinary action.
89 -</p>
90 -
91 -<p>
92 -Any complaint which the parties are not able to resolve themselves
93 -using the resources described above is assigned to the Conflict
94 -Resolution subproject for resolution. This process is described in
95 -'Disciplinary Action and Resolution'.
96 +Developer Relations becomes involved when the above two methods have failed. To
97 +involve Developer Relations in your issue please send an email to
98 +<mail>devrel@g.o</mail> or open a Bug and assign it to Developer
99 +Relations; either is acceptable. Please note that opening a bug is not
100 +necessary for mediation, however the developer may open a bug if he/she wishes
101 +to do so; opening a bug is mandatory if mediation efforts fail. Developer
102 +Relations includes a team of developers who work with the conflicting parties
103 +to resolve the conflict, these members are deemed mediators; the Developer
104 +Relations Mediator who takes this role should make clear that he or she is
105 +taking control of the conflict in order to prevent miscommunication. This does
106 +not mean that the Developer Relations Mediator in control may not ask others
107 +for assistance, nor that they should make a decision for the involved parties.
108 +The purpose of the Mediator is to assist in mediating discussion to aid in a
109 +mutually agreed upon resolution. If all attempts at mediation fail, the issue
110 +is escalated and a decision will be made by majority vote of Developer
111 +Relations members; this process is detailed in the Policy and Process sections
112 +below.
113 +</p>
114 +
115 +<p>
116 +Issues not necessarily related to personal conflict, such as intentional or
117 +repeated policy breaches, malicious or abrasive behavior to users or
118 +developers, or similar developer-specific behavioral problems should be brought
119 +directly to Developer Relations via <mail>devrel@g.o</mail> or via a
120 +Bug. These issues may bypass mediation and immediately be escalated to a vote
121 +by Developer Relations for the appropriate course of disciplinary action.
122 </p>
123
124 </body>
125 @@ -77,159 +80,167 @@
126 <title>Disciplinary action and resolution</title>
127
128 <section>
129 -<title>Introduction</title>
130 +<title>What Action May be Taken</title>
131 <body>
132
133 <p>
134 -Disciplinary action must be decided on a case-by-case basis by the
135 -Developer Relations lead(s). For the majority of situations requiring
136 -disciplinary action, a warning is enough to correct future
137 -behavior. If behavior does not improve, a probationary period with
138 -revoked access to Gentoo infrastructure of two weeks to one month is
139 -appropriate. If upon restoration of access negative behavior
140 -re-occurs, removal from the project will be necessary. In extreme
141 -cases, suspension or removal may be necessary upon a single
142 -offense. Except in critical situations where immediate action is
143 -required, such disciplinary action is determined by members of the
144 -Conflict Resolution subproject.
145 -</p>
146 -
147 -<p>
148 -Upon removing a developer, the gentoo-core mailing list should be
149 -notified. Additionally, the Developer Relations team are informed
150 -of the issues that led to removing or suspending a developer, and
151 -this information is stored on a bug. Developers who are removed
152 -from the project may not reapply for developer status without the
153 -approval of the Developer Relations lead(s).
154 +Disciplinary action must be decided on a case-by-case basis by Developer
155 +Relations. For the majority of situations requiring disciplinary action, a
156 +warning is enough to correct future behavior. If behavior does not improve, a
157 +probationary period with revoked access to Gentoo infrastructure of two weeks
158 +to one month is appropriate. If upon restoration of access negative behavior
159 +re-occurs, removal from the project will be necessary. In extreme cases,
160 +suspension or removal may be necessary upon a single offense. Except in
161 +critical situations where immediate action is required, such disciplinary
162 +action is determined by members of the Developer Relations project. If the
163 +issue is deemed critical, the developer in question may have his or her access
164 +suspended while a vote takes place; the critical nature of an escalation may be
165 +determined by the Developer Relations Lead or Infrastructure, for
166 +security-related issues, that which would endanger Gentoo, or our reputation.
167 +An issue that is deemed critical does not need further justification in
168 +addition to stating which of the above situations it falls under.
169 +</p>
170 +
171 +<p>
172 +Upon removing a developer, the gentoo-core mailing list should be notified.
173 +Additionally, the entire Developer Relations team is informed via email of the
174 +issues that led to removing or suspending a developer, and this information is
175 +stored on the bug. Developers who are removed from the project may not reapply
176 +for developer status without the approval of the Developer Relations lead(s).
177 </p>
178
179 </body>
180 </section>
181
182 <section>
183 -<title>Conflict Resolution Subproject</title>
184 +<title>The Policy for Resolution of Conflicts</title>
185 <body>
186
187 <p>
188 -Developer Relations has established a Conflict Resolution subproject
189 -for resolving disputes covered by this policy. This group consists of
190 -one Developer Relations member as a strategic lead, four active Gentoo
191 -developers who serve as a conflict resolution board, and alternates as
192 -determined by the lead. The lead is chosen by the active Developer
193 -Relations members, and the lead is responsible for selecting board
194 -members and any alternates. Developer Relations approves or rejects
195 -the lead's choices.
196 +What kind of disputes should be escalated?
197 </p>
198
199 +<ul>
200 +<li>A dispute involving Code of Conduct, or similarly themed violations,
201 +involving two or more developers.</li>
202 +<li>A developer whose behavior is believed to be a negative influence for the
203 +Gentoo community. This includes any inappropriate action conducted by a
204 +developer.</li>
205 +<li>Any other conflicts of a non technical nature involving two or more
206 +developers.</li>
207 +</ul>
208 +
209 <p>
210 -The lead of the Conflict Resolution subproject is primarily a
211 -strategic contact between the board and the Developer Relations lead(s),
212 -and as such, has no voting role in determining the resolution of any
213 -conflict unless needed to break a tie. However, the lead should be
214 -involved in any conflict referred to this subproject, and must be
215 -available to provide guidance, advice, or assistance if needed. The
216 -lead is also charged with the tasks of ensuring all subproject members
217 -are in fact active participants, that all members are eligible to
218 -serve, that the subproject works to establish any necessary internal
219 -procedures, and for similar administrative actions necessary for
220 -proper functioning of the board.
221 +Any conflicts that are purely technical should be addressed to either QA or
222 +Council. If a technical issue is turned into a personal issue, it would then be
223 +applicable.
224 +Please note, any conflict where a developer wishes to report a user should be
225 +escalated to User Relations.
226 </p>
227
228 -</body>
229 -</section>
230 -
231 -<section>
232 -<title>Conflict Resolution Policy</title>
233 -<body>
234 -
235 <p>
236 -Once a complaint is sent to the Conflict Resolution subproject, the
237 -board assumes responsibility for coordinating all aspects of the
238 -complaint. The board must act in accordance with the following
239 -guidelines:
240 +Once a complaint is sent to Developer Relations, the team assumes
241 +responsibility for coordinating all aspects of the complaint. The team must act
242 +in accordance with the following guidelines:
243 </p>
244
245 <p>
246 -Disputes between developers are first assigned to a member of the
247 -Developer Relations Conflict Resolutions Subproject for mediation.
248 -This step may be omitted only upon unanimous agreement among the
249 -the board members, and only if no such subproject member has already
250 -attempted mediation as described above.
251 +Mediation efforts are not intended to be transparent to the developer
252 +community. Developer Relations respects the privacy of the developers whom we
253 +work with; accordingly there can and will be mediation efforts made without
254 +being made public knowledge to the rest of the developer community. Regardless
255 +of private or public knowledge mediation, all mediation efforts will be
256 +confined to a window of 4 weeks. If mediation has not proven successful by this
257 +time, regardless of reason, the issue will be escalated to Developer Relations
258 +for a vote.
259 </p>
260
261 <p>
262 -Complaints that do not require mediation per se (such as repeat QA
263 -problems) are dealt with exclusively by the board. Problems for
264 -which mediation has been unsuccessful are also returned to the board
265 -for resolution.
266 +Disputes between developers are first assigned to a member of the Developer
267 +Relations team for mediation. This step may be omitted only upon unanimous
268 +agreement among the mediation members, and only if no such member has already
269 +attempted mediation as described above. A bug is not required for mediation;
270 +however a bug is required if mediation efforts have failed or are not
271 +applicable.
272 </p>
273
274 <p>
275 -In either case, once a complaint reaches the board for final
276 -resolution, the board should act upon the complaint in a timely
277 -manner. Although it is impossible to establish absolute time limits,
278 -unnecessary delays are not acceptable. It is up to the board members
279 -themselves to establish communications among themselves. IRC is the
280 -preferred communications medium, but e-mail is an acceptable
281 -alternative if IRC proves to be impossible.
282 +Complaints that do not require mediation per se are dealt with exclusively by a
283 +vote of the Developer Relations team. Problems for which mediation has been
284 +unsuccessful are also escalated to a vote of the Developer Relations team.
285 </p>
286
287 <p>
288 -No matter how the board chooses to carry on its business, all official
289 -proceedings including board meetings and voting sessions must be made
290 -public. However, discussions with parties involved in a complaint held
291 -for the purpose of mediation may be kept private at the request either
292 -of the parties or of the board members meeting with the parties. The
293 -subproject lead is responsible for releasing (the public) logs or
294 -e-mails to the devrel mail alias and for maintaining an archive of all
295 -public documents. In the case of private discussions, a summary of the
296 -non-sensitive parts of the discussion should be provided.
297 +In either case, once a complaint reaches the need for a vote the parties
298 +involved in the escalation and the mediator are given three days to supply
299 +Developer Relations with information on the matter. While information exchange
300 +cannot be forced, it does not indicate the matter is dropped, nor the vote
301 +cancelled, if any party does not provide information within three days. After
302 +the third day, the Developer Relations team is given two weeks to vote on the
303 +matter. The two week period allows members of Developer Relations to ask
304 +questions to either party as applicable. The Mediator to the issue is not
305 +excluded from voting. The Developer Relations Lead may only cast a vote if a
306 +tie-break is needed.
307 </p>
308
309 </body>
310 </section>
311
312 <section>
313 -<title>Resolution and Appeal</title>
314 +<title>The Process for the Resolution Conflicts</title>
315 <body>
316
317 <p>
318 -Once the board members determine they have enough information to reach
319 -a conclusion, they meet to make a final determination of the
320 -appropriate resolution of the complaint. The subproject lead does not
321 -vote in determining this final resolution unless needed to break a
322 -tie.
323 +Developer Relations includes a team of Mediators dedicated to resolving
324 +disputes covered by this policy. Should such mediation fail, Developer
325 +Relations will vote to resolve the issue. The information regarding the issue
326 +will be presented by each involved party as well as the Mediator involved, if
327 +applicable.
328 </p>
329
330 <p>
331 -Any party to a dispute resolved by the board may appeal the resolution
332 -to the Developer Relations lead(s). No other developer may appeal.
333 +Each party is given three days to present information on the issue, at the end
334 +of the third day the team will review the information regarding the issue and
335 +vote on a resolution. The team will decide which information presented is valid
336 +for the current case and disregard information which is deemed invalid or not
337 +applicable to the current case.
338 </p>
339
340 <p>
341 -In case of an appeal, the Developer Relations lead(s) must take one of two
342 -actions. They may deny the appeal and refer it to the Council for final
343 -resolution.
344 +All members of Developer Relations have one vote to determine the appropriate
345 +disciplinary action; all votes must be received within 14 days. For the voting
346 +to be valid it requires a simple majority of all Developer Relations members to
347 +vote in a particular direction.
348 </p>
349
350 <p>
351 -Or, they may accept the appeal. If they accept the appeal, the lead(s)
352 -must immediately post the appeal to the devrel mail alias for vote on
353 -the appeal by all of Developer Relations. Developer Relations members
354 -then have three days in which to vote to accept or deny the appeal.
355 +To illustrate this, if there are currently 12 members in the Developer
356 +Relations project then at least 7 members must vote in a particular direction.
357 +This does not mean that all 12 members must vote, just that the majority of the
358 +team must vote in a one direction, making it unnecessary for the remaining 5
359 +members to vote as they would have already been over ruled by the majority
360 +vote. If the vote is split 50/50, the Developer Relations Lead will cast the
361 +deciding vote.
362 </p>
363
364 +</body>
365 +</section>
366 +
367 +<section>
368 +<title>Resolution and Appeal</title>
369 +<body>
370 +
371 <p>
372 -If a majority of those who vote agree with the appeal, then the appeal
373 -is successful. In this case, the judgment of the board is modified as
374 -requested in the appeal.
375 +Any party to a dispute resolved by the Developer Relations team may appeal the
376 +resolution to Council. No other developer may appeal.
377 </p>
378
379 <p>
380 -If Developer Relations votes to deny the appeal, then the judgment of
381 -the board is accepted unmodified. The outcome of such a vote may be
382 -appealed to the Council for resolution, but again only parties affected
383 -by the resolution are allowed to appeal.
384 +Council may decide to override the Developer Relations decision, this decision
385 +would be reached by majority vote within Council, in which case the Council
386 +decision would be respected and adhered. Repeat offenses for the same action
387 +would be treated as such, resulting in review of possible disciplinary actions
388 +at the discretion of Developer Relations with the appeal process being the same.
389 </p>
390
391 </body>
392 @@ -240,43 +251,23 @@
393 <body>
394
395 <p>
396 -No member of Developer Relations may participate in more than one step
397 -in the attempt to resolve a conflict. Specifically, anyone who attempts
398 -to mediate or otherwise resolve a conflict early in the process is barred
399 -from taking part in later stages (such as serving on any required dispute
400 -resolution board).
401 -</p>
402 -
403 -<p>
404 -In particular, if a party to a dispute is also a member of Developer
405 -Relations, that person may have no role in the dispute resolution process
406 -except as a party. If that Developer Relations member also has a specific
407 -role in the resolution process (such as Developer Relations lead or Conflict
408 -Resolutions sublead), then that person must immediately inform Developer
409 -Relations of the conflict and ask Developer Relations to select an alternate
410 -to act in his or her place for this dispute.
411 -</p>
412 -
413 -<p>
414 -For any complaint sent to the Conflict Resolution subproject, the
415 -Developer Relations lead(s) and the subproject lead should speak with
416 -each board member to determine any conflict of interest issues. Board
417 -members having a conflict of interest in any particular dispute may
418 -not participate in the resolution of that dispute. They should be
419 -replaced by an alternate chosen by the subproject lead. Whether the
420 -alternate becomes a permanent board member or whether the member
421 -rotated out is brought back at the end of the dispute is left to the
422 -discretion of the subproject lead.
423 +If a party to a dispute is also a member of Developer Relations, that person
424 +may have no role in the dispute resolution process except as a party;
425 +forfeiting their vote if a Developer Relations vote is held. It is the
426 +responsibility of that person to immediately inform Developer Relations of the
427 +conflict. The only way a conflict of interest is applicable is when a person
428 +involved in the mediation/resolution process is also involved in the conflict.
429 +As developers, we are entrusted to make decisions in the best interest of
430 +Gentoo and set aside personal interest for the best interest of Gentoo as a
431 +whole.
432 </p>
433
434 <p>
435 -Complaints raised about any member of the Conflict Resolution
436 -subproject may be raised to the Developer Relations lead(s) or at
437 -Developer Relations meetings for discussion at any time. Under extreme
438 -circumstances, Developer Relations as a whole may vote to remove
439 -members from the conflict resolution subproject. Also, board members
440 -may be replaced at the subproject lead's discretion with an
441 -explanation to Developer Relations.
442 +Complaints raised about any member of Developer Relations may be raised to the
443 +Developer Relations lead(s) or to Developer Relations via
444 +<mail>devrel@g.o</mail> for discussion at any time; a meeting may be
445 +called to discuss the matter further, up to and including to vote to remove
446 +members.
447 </p>
448
449 </body>
450
451
452
453 --
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