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Hi all, |
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It has been asked that I submit my Proposal of Change to Gentoo User |
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Relations Project to this mailing list, it was also asked that I submit |
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it RFC style! Now, writing RFC's is not something I've ever done, so I |
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hope you all bear with me. |
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Input is very much welcome. |
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And the proposal can be seen below. |
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Kind Regards, |
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Christel Dahlskjaer |
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RFC: Proposal of Change to Gentoo User Relations Project. |
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The following is a proposal for change to the User Relations Project. |
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The following proposal contains background on the needs for and |
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benefits of change to the project, an outline of the changes I think |
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should be made, my qualifications and a schedule. I look forward to |
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hearing your ideas on the scope of this proposal. |
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Need for Change |
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As the user base of Gentoo continues to grow, so does the need for |
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having a strong link between users and developers. Unfortunately the |
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User Relations project has fallen behind, and has lain dormant for quite |
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some time. The project needs organization and structure in order to best |
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serve the user/developer community and attract |
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potential project members from within the community. It is of course |
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understandable that when overworked/stressed we become less |
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communicative, and can respond in a more abrupt manner. As a developer |
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it is easy to get into a situation where you are stressed and where it |
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becomes easy to respond to a user in a less than desirable fashion. |
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Benefits of Change |
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1) Better communication and easier access to understandable |
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information produces happier users and developers. |
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2) Happy developers are more productive. |
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3) Happy users file fewer complaints |
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4) Better communication will ease the workload for developers |
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5) Better communication will make Gentoo more attractive to potential |
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new users and encourage continued user contribution. |
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My Qualifications |
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I have been a Linux user for 13 years. I have worked as a Registered |
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Mental Health Nurse for 4 years. I study towards a MSc in Forensic |
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Psychology. I have been involved with the Irssi project for 4 years. I |
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have been a volunteer staff member for Freenode (PDPC) for 1 year. I |
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have had various other volunteer positions over the past ten years. |
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Suggested Changes |
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* Communication - Review the current channels of communication |
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between users and users, and users and developers (focusing |
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in the start phase primarily on the two issues outlined below) |
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1. Bugzilla - Create a Bug Writing How-to to provide users with a |
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guideline for how to write bug reports, to ease the workload |
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for the developers and also to ensure that the users include |
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sufficient information with their bug report. |
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2. Bugzilla - Write and make available guidelines for how |
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to respond to a bug report in a useful manner. Ensure that |
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developers have the opportunity to look up how "it should be |
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done" should they feel unsure. |
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* Complaints - Review and rewrite the current complaints |
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procedure to ensure that users will find User Relations |
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approachable and thus will feel able to file |
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complaints if necessary. Ensure that a problem is always |
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looked at from both sides, and if the problem cannot be solved |
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by User Relations have a procedure in place for escalating to |
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an ombudsman. |
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* Stress - Ensure that there is an understanding of how |
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overwork/stress can affect the way we communicate with others. |
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Ensure there is a procedure in place for backup should the |
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need arise for a developer to not deal with users directly for |
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one reason or another. Ensure developers have the option to |
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"take time out" when needed. Ensure that users are dealt with |
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in an effective and friendly manner so not to cause any |
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unnecessary trauma for users. |
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* Recruitment - Work alongside Developer Relations to improve |
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the recruitment process, focusing on the process for reinstating |
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a returning developer to start with. |
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* User Relations - Review User Relations' role and find |
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other ways of improving Gentoo User Relations. Ensure that |
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User Relations are proactive rather than reactive and have a |
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good strong presence within the user community. Continously |
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encourage and listen to feedback from users and developers in |
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order to better understand the needs of users and developers, |
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and effectively cater to them. |
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In order to achieve this I intend to seek out input from users |
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and developers, possibly in the form of a survey as well as by |
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interacting with users/developers through the existing channels of |
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communication (forum, irc, mailing lists, e-mail, bugzilla, planet |
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gentoo etc). I intend to produce reports detailing my findings and what |
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changes I feel need to be made along with detailed plans of how |
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for User Relations can carry out the changes. I will address these |
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reports to Developer-Relations and make them available for input before |
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undertaking any work. When working towards deadlines we will always |
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ensure that the dead lines are realistic, as unrealistic deadlines are |
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often a source of stress. |
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For the above mentioned points I intend to ask for user and developer |
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input before creating any documents. I also intend to ask for input |
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during the process of creating these documents to ensure that noone |
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feels left out and to ensure that the end product is one that is |
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agreeable for most. I also intend to make available information on how |
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to deal with stress and heavy work loads and easy non-time consuming |
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techniques for relaxation. |
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-- |
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gentoo-devrel@g.o mailing list |