Re: Focus

[Nadim Shaikli <shaikli at yahoo dot com>]

--- Mohammed Elzubeir <elzubeir at arabeyes dot org> wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 27, 2004 at 10:17:16AM -0800, Nadim Shaikli wrote:
> > Guys, I feel like a broken, thrashed record in repeating myself over
> 
> Here we go...

As I said, I guess I'm not making friends by wanting to resolve this
issue and by continually bring-up the topic.  I simply think its a
serious issue that needs addressing.

> > and over.  We MUST focus on getting things done.  Emails must be answered,
> > registrations (CVS and otherwise) need attention; meeting minutes/agendas
> 
> i am not sure what the problem is with CVS. I have repeatedly said this.
> If CVS access is needed, it needs to be filed as a bug report.

This is not an issue (as we talked about on IRC).  If/when I give people
CVS access, I do it because they show-up on IRC and want it done right
then and there (which makes sense), I'm not trying to take anything from
anyone nor am I looking for more work.  Back to more important issues...

> > acceptable); in short we need to be on the ball.  We run the risk of
> > really doing more harm than good by sitting about and pretending and
> > thinking that things will manage themselves.
> 
> I think you are over-romanticizing our role here. Arabeyes is, for the
> most part on auto-pilot. What I propose we do is completely redefine the
> role of 'core'.

I beg to differ and differ with a wrapper and bow on it :-)  I don't think
we are anywhere close to being on auto-pilot and think that is really where
all our problems might be at.  We have to have a much more hands on role
to grow this operation and to continually refine it, dropping things mid-way
(I don't want to site any examples here although there are many since it
would simply distract from the true cause of all of this) is detrimental.

> > I've said this before - if there is no longer interest in doing the work
> > that 'core' members are supposed to be engaged in, then we need to solve
> > that issue by addressing it.
> 
> I have also said that I am starting to feel worn out. Core should only
> be involved and engaged in 'management'. Anything outside of that should
> be up for grabs for any Arabeyes volunteer. I am not sure we should be
> discussing a particular project's status unless we are reviewing every
> project's status.. I don't think we should be doing a lot of things we
> do in our meetings. You want to talk about focus, here is some focus for
> ya, stick to management for 'core'.

Everything we talk about in our meetings (for the most part) is very much
'management' related (the minutes attest to that).  I'm not sure what you
envision 'management' being and/or what it would entail, but we are managing
the Arabeyes project.  As for talking about projects - I continue to think
that if a project is dying it very much is a management issue and should be
discussed in hopes of us coming up with a plan to salvage things (again,
that is a 'management' role).  Out bread-n-butter are the projects, if
we don't talk about 'em, I'm not sure we'd need meetings.

> > Arabeyes is in a critical stage and is on the verge of _really_ taking off
> > as we've proved a number of things that were seemingly impossible.  We all
> > (including first and foremost me) need to step-up and think about how to
> > grow this operation and how to attain and foster progress.
> > 
> > And for the record - we are all busy, but its a question of 
> 
> A question of just how busy ;) I am extremely busy -- yes, I'm trying to
> make a living.. my current job simply doesn't pay enough and I am
> engaged in several contract type of projects. Not having a net
> connection at home means that my input is degraded by 75% at least.

This is the crux of the issue - we all have responsibilities with regards
to Arabeyes and as such we all need to live up to them (ie. everyone has
to carry their own weight).  We come hard on project maintainers for not
doing what they are supposed to, shouldn't we first and foremost be that
hard on ourselves ?

Again, I'm trying to focus on the subject at hand and not get into various
secondary topics or jabs (none of this is personal and none of it should
be).  I want to make sure we all start functioning in a manner that we
can truly call ourselves Arabeyes managers and people that are looking
out for the well-being of the project (not just sustaining its existence).
Growth is VERY high in my mind and I won't go there (as I have some ideas)
until this topic is settled and agreed upon (the first step to a solution
is admitting the existence of a problem).  If we are unable to take on
and fulfill the responsibilities as 'core' then we should try to find
another group of people more capable than us.  If there are questions with
regards to what 'core' does (if the past 3 years haven't made that clear
enough), then let's ask the volunteers for their input and listen to their
needs and thoughts.

Salam.

 - Nadim


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