Re: Re: A Call For Open Governance Of X Development (Egbert Eich)

David,
You are the President of XFree86.  As I said in my posting: "...it (XFree86) 
needs to seriously consider whether or not its management is best suited to 
continue into the future.  Only they have the power to make the changes, and I 
sincerely hope they will thoughtfully consider ALL options."  That decision is 
not mine or anyone else's but the BOD of XFree86.

My posting is NOT an attack on you or on the job you or anyone else on the 
XFree86 team have done.  You asked for opinions, and I assumed you wanted honest 
remarks.  I have been honest with you and with the group.  I don't know the 
details of what has transpired internally at XFree86 to have caused this - and I 
don't want to know - but I feel strongly that a democratically elected 
management of that organization would provide a *safe* outlet for people who are 
involved with XFree86 to vent their concerns, and to leave it up to the 
constituency to make the final call.  There may not be stock holders in XFree86, 
but there are quite a few "Stake-holders".  I happen to be one of them, and I 
replied to your request for input as a concerned stakeholder.

If you don't want honest public comments, then please don't ask for them 
publicly.  Had you asked me my opinion privately, I would have given you the 
same opinion privately.  I respect what you do, and what you have done for 
XFree86, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with the closed nature of the 
corporation.  I think that hurts the project.  I DID NOT say that you, or anyone 
else in the organization hurts the project.  I said the fact that issues that 
affect a great deal of people beyond just the developers are decided exclusively 
by a group that is not chosen by its constituency is a problem, and that can be 
solved by my suggestion.  It was a suggestion.  It was meant to provide my 
insight into a way that could help.  It was intended to support your call for 
input, it wasn't intend to rubber stamp anyone's actions.  I'll remember in the 
future not to respond honestly to your questions, and I will therefore refrain 
from submitting any more responses at all.


Frank

David Dawes wrote:
> Thanks for the support mate!  Keep it up!
> 
> David
> 
> On Fri, Mar 21, 2003 at 03:53:49PM -0600, Frank LaMonica wrote:
> 
> 
>>FL-> XFree86 has evolved into a project with a much broader scope, so it is 
>>logical to explore new ways to manage it if the current method is threatened. 
>>This discussion was precipitated by current XFree86 management, and by 
>>disgruntled developers who have "worked their butt off", but now feel they don't 
>>have the voice they feel they deserve.
>>
>>My comments suggest just one possible way to manage diverse opinions in a way 
>>that allows all parties to feel their voice is at least being heard.  Achieving 
>>that *might* help to prevent a fork that would affect many, many people in an 
>>extremely negative way.
>>
>>Successful organizations recognize the fact that it takes many people with many 
>>different skill sets to maintain a viable organization.  There are some 
>>excellent developers who also possess strong managerial skills.  Ideally, they 
>>are the type of person who would lead technical organizations.  unfortunately, 
>>there are many more great developers who not only lack managerial skills, but 
>>who don't even recognize the value that good management brings to an 
>>organization.  Technical people who start organizations that grow to global 
>>proportions almost always relinquish managerial control to experienced managers 
>>when the organization reaches a point where professional management is needed. 
>>This has happened in so many successful large organizations, that it is almost 
>>the expected evolution of a startup company.  Xfree86 has grown to global 
>>proportions, and it needs to seriously consider whether or not its management is 
>>best suited to continue into the future.  Only they have the power to make the 
>>changes, and I sincerely hope they will thoughtfully consider ALL options.
>>
>>
>>
>>>How would this person feel if someone happened to be elected 
>>>to take over the leadership who has not written a single line 
>>>of code for the project, but for example happens to be working 
>>>for a "System integrator and distributors packaging X technology 
>>>in various forms"?
>>>Do you expect any serious developer would continue to work on
>>>this project?
>>
>>FL-> If the elected person were qualified to manage the organization, there is 
>>absolutely no need for that person to have ever written a line of code for any 
>>project.  Yes, I personally think it is very helpful for managers to also be 
>>technologists, that is NOT a prerequisite for great management.  I trust that 
>>the majority of people who would vote on a management team for XFree86 would 
>>care enough about the outcome that they would not care one iota if the person 
>>"paid his or her dues" as a developer.  Managing the organization should not be 
>>a reward for past technical achievements, it is a responsibility given to 
>>someone or some group of people, to ensure that the right people are given the 
>>right jobs within the organization to keep it successful into the future.  It is 
>>also the job of management to look beyond the technical issues themselves, and 
>>try to direct the organization's efforts in a manner that will best serve its 
>>constituency.  I agree with Keith that the XFree86 constituency is very large 
>>and that it must all be heard.  Good management doesn't interfere with good 
>>developers, it supports them.  It also, however, supports the larger community 
>>that depends on the technology being developed.
>>
>>
> 
>