Strategic focus (was Re: Islandwood Code sprint (was Re: [Board] New MOUs proposed...))

Tue Sep 6 14:09:34 PDT 2011

I fully admit that my knee-jerk reaction is to simply help drive new users to OSGeo projects, at least that's with my 2006 hat on.  However, I've been convinced that with the current foundation we've laid, regrouping on a clearly articulated strategy is our biggest challenge.  While I don't think other members would like having their marketing efforts called out as "mythical", I can see how some projects might very well be wondering "what's in it for them".  I always thought it was obvious: If we call from the mountaintop that OSGeo software is great stuff.. then users will come and we'll all be happier.  But perhaps the feedback loop isn't there as well as it could be.  

How do we address it strategically, instead of one-off efforts?  I think the key lies in understanding the "Marketing vs. Development" balance.  Really, it's not an either/or scenario or a death match.  I should probably be saying Marketing re: Development - a cooperative symbiotic relationship feeding one into the other.  Here's how I break it down, with historic perspective and current questions.

== Marketing ==

OSGeo founders saw that there were great projects being developed and we wanted to bring that message to the masses through more outreach and, in turn, help support the projects by bringing in more eyeballs (hopefully more developer fingers too).  Have we succeeded?  Good question.  FOSS4G is one litmus test - so far so good from that angle, but it does leave me wondering about what other metrics we could be looking at (or should have looked for).  

So that's question #1 - how do you define OSGeo's success?  Let's assume that the initial marketing push has helped in some way, even if you disagree, just for sake of argument.  If we've achieved some success with these initial efforts, what impact will it have over the next 5 years?  Will it be x number of local chapters?  Increased number of new projects?  A number of MOUs with schools or perhaps number of courses available teaching OSGeo stuff?  Additional sponsors on board?  Mainstream attention or cooperation with large companies?

== Development ==

If new users has been our focus so far, how we can draw in more than "just" new users?  What other particular needs do the projects have that a foundation like ours can help with?  Let's turn, then, to the other part of our mission, supporting the projects.  Historically speaking, we've run various systems, invested heavily in new hardware last year ($15k), migrated to new server hosting to help improve service delivery, incubated new projects, we've even provided some space for non-OSGeo projects.  

Those have been the historic perspectives, now what?  Do projects need more developers?  Are there needs for more meetups - or are more strategic alliances with larger companies sought after?  Need funding to hired more developers?  What are the particular needs the projects have?  I don't have the answers, but throwing out some off the top of my head.

The discussion so far pointed to ideas like code sprints as good examples of how to help improve/develop projects.  I agree, though Mark also hits it on the head:
"As we grow and become more financially secure, it becomes easier to support sprints, sponsored travel, and other events that move our collective agenda forward".  Is it all intimately tied? I think it must be and must feedback one into the other.  So FOSS4G factors in there nicely because it nails a few things all at once, but what else can we do?  

How else can us non-developers in the OSGeo community continue to help contribute?  How can OSGeo drive both the end user/organisations/companies to OSGeo projects to, for example, contribute docs, code or even funding?  And likewise, how can we better present OSGeo projects as leaders in the field, worthy to be considered for any serious project?

== Needs Assessment ==

I think it would be worth collecting thoughts from the projects themselves, but also from local chapters.  It's easy to look at our committees or the board and think they represent all that is done in OSGeo - but we all know that's only part of it.  Both projects and local chapters (in addition to committees) are active in a range of activities - from basic communications, programming, hackfests, outreach, raising sponsorship, running FOSS4G that brings all together.. etc.   

I'd be happy to collect some feedback from these groups and report back to the board.  Not sure if I could do it in time for your FOSS4G meeting, but it would certainly add some interesting data points to your discussion and remove some speculation.  If anyone wants to help me frame questions, let me know.

Hope that helps at least give you my perspective,
Tyler

p.s. The results of my earlier community survey around key priority areas are here, though it's not the same question dealing with above: http://bit.ly/surveyresultsraw

Also note that 10 of 170+ people provided "other" key target areas to consider, they were:

- Utilities
- utilities, consumer-level (both "unsure")
- F4G User Training & Support issues
- focus on helping OSGEO software projects improve (and possibly look at standardizing) documentation
- NGOs are important because large companies like ESRI started offering them (at zero cost) arcgis and arcserver licences
- I'm assuming that by BUSINESS, you're referring to facilitating Businesses operating in the FOSS4G space to operate together to achieve economies of scale.
- there has to be a revenue model for each of these.. not a 'greedy' one, nor an absent one, but something
- Build new innovative software, new, non existing functionality instead of re-inventing the wheel by delevering functionality already available in existing products (closed or open)
- K-12 Education curriculum design needs to be added into the ACADEMIC description.
- science/research at universities
- OSGeo projects of course
- recruit developers
- Developer support...

5/11/2011 12:50 AMView Responses

On 2011-09-05, at 5:44 PM, Howard Butler wrote:

> 
> On Sep 4, 2011, at 9:32 AM, Mark Lucas wrote:
> 
>> As a somewhat distant observer, there are two levels of discussion:
>> 
>> 1)  What are the priorities for the board, how much financial bandwidth do we have
>> 
>> 2)  Can we help with a near term financial guarantee for a code sprint
>> 
>> The discussion on Islandwood seems to indicate that it is fairly low risk, supported by trusted and well respected OSGeo contributors.  I think we all want to see these types of events flourish.  I am not of the opinion that these events are at the very top of our priority list - we should support where we can.  
> 
> What *is* the top of our priority list?  
> 
> I can see things from Jeroen's perspective of unfairness, especially for a similarly-priced event. The North American event is unique in that it has moved around every year, much like FOSS4G, increasing the uncertainty and providing a "newness" to its new organizer every year.   Considering this, however, OSGeo should be providing backstop for the Bolsena event as well. I mean, how inane is OSGeo if it can't provide support (note, this is not even direct financial support -- it is merely equivalent to event insurance) for *actual development of software* for its projects? We've wrung our hands about providing direct financial support ala Mozilla Foundation. We've wrung our hands about providing consistent training services (excepting FOSS4G workshops) by selling OSGeo as a brand. If you're a software project, what is the point of hitching your wagon to OSGeo? 
> 
>> In this case I think we probably will once everyone is comfortable with the financial risk.
>> 
>> I'm hoping we can focus on taking OSGeo to the next level in terms of sponsorship, profitable events, and revenue streams so that these types of decisions become easier to make.  I believe we have made significant progress with our marketing in establishing OSGeo as a desired corporate and government partner.
> 
> This is going to come off sounding like a jerk, but a desired corporate and government partner to do what, exactly?  Certainly not to foster software development if we can't even backstop organized development events. These sprint events are the place were real cross pollination and real project integration happens. Joe and Mike meet at the sprint, discuss how to make things work together, sketch things out, and go home with a plan. At Joe and Mike's next software release, things now work together.  In my opinion, if I were a sponsor, I feel like I'm getting way more leverage out of something like this than I do from a MOU or marketing slick.
> 
>> Sorry if I missed it, but if OSGeo backs the Islandwood sprint and the event returns a profit, where do those profits go?  If events such as these can be structured to help build our financial resources they might be easier to evaluate and prioritize.
> 
> To support ongoing sprint events. We're talking $100-$2000 here.
> 
> I know I sound like a harpy negative nilly. As I've stated, I'm frustrated with OSGeo's listlessness. The listlessness is not from lack of effort, it is from lack of focus. Not making a decision is a decision.
> 
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