Committees 2.0

OWASP Global Committees 2.0

Objective: Inspire our volunteer community to participate in a variety of activities within OWASP

Need: OWASP has deviated from it’s position as a platform organization. The community needs to find the voice necessary to influence change and growth in the organization. A flexible yet structured process is necessary to provide the community with the tools they need to be successful.

Proposal: Develop a tiered committee structure leveraging the consolidated operational platform.

Procedure:

Lessons learned and obstacles to avoid.

Then and now:

2014 committee solutions

Foundation - The overhauled operational platform provide the staff with the tools to better facilitate committees (not run them) with the ability to track members, member activities, topics, and needs in an open to all format.

Tools like google hangouts eliminates the need to schedule meetings in advance around others.

Structure - The 2014 committee platform proposes a tiered structure that would allow the committee to exist at a high level, and have “sub committees” or “task forces” to be created under the umbrella of the global committee.

Membership - The tiered committee structure allows a smaller group to lead or steer initiatives and sub committees. The leadership group will commit to a one year term, and the initiatives within the group will be task oriented and therefore have a deadline and a defined end point for the participants. An open call for participants for each new task or initiative allows for individuals who are no longer interested in participation to step away.

Leadership - A key core group with fluctuating lengths of commitment for initiatives will allow the global community to participate in the activities that interest them for the length of time that it may require.

Committee Purpose - The committees should be assigned, not to a broad area of operations, but to the strategic goals as set by the Board. By collaborating as a global community with the opportunity to define a roadmap for a goal will allow for the committee members to be successful and to see progress.

Interaction - The core leadership group will work as one unit. Each leader will chose a particular goal, and the leaders will monitor each other and interact on a regular basis to develop the initiatives and task force groups.

Board involvement -The committees should not be managed by the board of directors. The board needs to show trust and encouragement for the community to experiment and to be successful. Board members can not participate as committee members.

Board approval - Proposals brought forward from the committees should be voted upon by the community (or community leadership). The community decision should be considered valid. Implementing a process for a trial period of 6 months to a year would be sufficient to determine if it was beneficial for the organization. This also reinstates the sense of ownership the community has in the organization.

Rollout:

Establish high level committees that focus not on operational issues, but on the Strategic goals as determined by the board of directors.

Hold an open nomination period of 30 days (month of June or July) to establish the core committee leadership team. The leadership team will review the 2014 strategic goals and establish an initial set of initiatives to work towards the goals, “cross pollinating” ideas and successes.

The community will have the opportunity to “sign up” for an initiative or sub committee and begin work.

The structure in the Member Nation portal allows for open discussions, participation, and visibility while allowing the staff to provide metrics on participation and progress.

The Community in Member Nation provides a platform for the community at large (all community members) to participate and vote on issues and to make comments.

The process will be reviewed and modified as needed in 6 months.