So, there's apparently some interesting happenings down in St. Pete lately, as evidenced by this edit to the Wikimedia Foundation wiki by Wikimedia staffer Cary Bass. Apparently, Carolyn is no longer the chief operating officer of the Wikimedia Foundation. (The position has also been listed as a "job opening".) However, this is the only public evidence for this change; if there's any announcement or statement regarding her departure, I have not been able to find it.
So, either Carolyn resigned or she was let go; in either case there ought to be some public statement from the Foundation on this issue. There isn't. I doubt that the Foundation even plans to release a statement (although now that I've blogged about it, there will probably be a statement of some sort). The fact that staff changes like this (in the absence of an executive director, the chief operating officer is basically the day-to-day head of the organization, so her role is definitely important) are conducted with not even a minimal public statement is certainly not what I would call transparency.
So, either Carolyn resigned or she was let go; in either case there ought to be some public statement from the Foundation on this issue. There isn't. I doubt that the Foundation even plans to release a statement (although now that I've blogged about it, there will probably be a statement of some sort). The fact that staff changes like this (in the absence of an executive director, the chief operating officer is basically the day-to-day head of the organization, so her role is definitely important) are conducted with not even a minimal public statement is certainly not what I would call transparency.
Kelly, I do believe that you've seen the light on transparency. Good post.
ReplyDeleteThe foundation is going to suffer greatly if every time there is a shift in power, employees pay the price with their job.
Who's going to want to work at a place like that? The foundation will pay because good candidates won't want to work here, and who can blame them?
Although, you have to admit, there was kind of a sweet justice when Erik was elected to the board and then Danny had to report to him.
when you assume that it is because of a shift in power, you have to know that this is indeed the case. At the moment it is just idle speculation.
ReplyDeleteI see no reason (at this time, at least) to believe that this change is due to any "shift in power". We probably will never know why Carolyn is no longer with the Foundation, but it would at least be nice if the Foundation had announced her departure in some way more substantial than what amounts to scratching her face off the company group photo. Apparently the Foundation doesn't believe that its "members" and donors deserve even that much.
ReplyDeleteThe Foundation doesn't feel it owes anyone anything. Why is this a surprise? I'm surprised that they are giving the woman due respect of not blathering on about her departure online. If she was sacked, then no comment is appropriate. If she moved on, and they were ticked, they'd do the same.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't know why you are operating as if you work for the Foundation. You might slave for the Foundation. You might contribute heavily to Wikipedia. But they don't care about you, don't think you have a right to anything, and as for the donors - come on. When have they ever given a damn what the donors think. That's why there aren't many donors.
They do what they damned well please.
The original motion to hire her at:
ReplyDeletehttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:COO_-_Carolyn_Doran
States:
"The position will be re-evaluated upon hiring an Executive Director"
Perhaps there is a relation?
- Chairboy
I think that it is great. It leaves more room for the rest of us to get involved in paid fashion at Wikipedia.
ReplyDelete- Lise Diane Broer (aka "Durova")
I will now reveal the actual reason there was no announcement: Because there's no reason there should have been one.
ReplyDeleteBoard members certainly, people with heavy public contact probably, back-office staff how is that the world's business? This is a charity, not a sideshow. There's transparency and then there's "wtf."
FWIW, she left for personal reasons unconnected to WMF, who were sorry to see her go, and was very helpful in handover.
David Gerard: How is the resignation of Wikimedia's highest-ranking executive (at least on paper) just the departure of back-office staff?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Dave takes a "fuck the little people" approach to life. If there wasn't an inner and an outer, poor Dave would have to struggle by on his merits.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Dr Zen here. I've seen Dave stick up for the little guy numerous times.
ReplyDeleteIf there wasn't an inner and an outer, poor Dave would have to struggle by on his merits.
Perhaps you didn't know this, Dr Zen, but David creates a lot of good content, including several featured articles.
David is one of the good guys - and I say this as a person who often disagrees with him.
ReplyDeleteHe'll do things for the good of the community, even at the expense of himself. A couple of examples are taking a public roll in contentious issues like admin-irc and checkuser (when it first came out).
Why are you no longer the alternate contact for #wikipedia?
ReplyDelete