Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
On Sat, Mar 04, 2006 at 02:13:42PM +0100, Wouter Verhelst wrote: So, my question: please name anyth behaviour or act you've observed with previous DPLs (naming the name of the respective DPL is not required) that you think was a mistake, and which you will try not to make during your term? I think I answered that as part of my reply to Steve's questions on past DPLs. I'll just quote it: ] One thing [Bruce] didn't do well was accept that on some of them, -- such ] as switching to the rpm format -- no one was really interested. I think ] that sort of active leadership is really important, but it's not the ] sort of thing that can come from just the DPL, and it's not the sort of ] thing that can happen by force, or to the exclusion of other approaches. I pick that one rather than some others because I am inclined to act like that, (or in ways that appear to be like that), and noting it here should serve as a good reminder should I need it in future. Cheers, aj signature.asc Description: Digital signature
Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
On Tue, Mar 07, 2006 at 04:02:02AM +0100, Jeroen van Wolffelaar wrote: On Sat, Mar 04, 2006 at 02:13:42PM +0100, Wouter Verhelst wrote: During DPL campaigning, it seems in for candidates to propose all sorts of Great Things they will try to do once elected. While this is obviously all interesting information, it leaves out something that, I think, is also fairly important: the things you think previous DPLs have done wrongly, and that you intend to do differently. I'm going to really focus on what I want to achieve. I haven't promised that much, and certainly not things I think I cannot achieve -- although it'd be silly to presume I can achieve everything in my platform. Also, other than just limiting myself to certain areas, I'm also setting targets for myself that have real-world effect, and should mostly be of tangible benefit, rather than merely procedural. I have concrete ideas how I want to achieve my goals. As you can see from my answers to other questions, there are whole areas (such as NM) that I do think are important, but I won't make a priority of working on. Also, as I wrote in my platform, and elaborated on the lists later: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/02/msg00703.html, I've learned a lot from being in the DPL team of the past year, seeing some real DPL action from close by, working on some tough issues, and team dynamics in the context of Debian. To hilight some lessons: involving whole team (and making them feel responsible too, and in a much better position to assist on own initiative) by having leader@ go to the whole team; but at the same time, not rely on the success of the team (it should in all cases be a net-win in terms of what I/we will achieve); maintain a strict and focussed agenda; having a modest amount of serious reviews of DPL status. I do not believe in spending full-time time in the DPL position, that would IMHO be a sign that you're either not focussed enough, failing at management, or simply doing too much as DPL -- as stated in my platform, Debian works best and should work as a collection of individuals and teams on putting together our beloved OS, and the DPL (team) should work on improvements where needed. None of those improvements should ever be of immediate urgency. Whenever in Debian something needs to happen urgently, it'll be as part of some infrastructure team or so, or in any case, somewhere where the real work gets done. Not in the position that IMHO should merely ensure the real work can be done in the best possible circumstances. Whoa. That certainly was a lot of information; so much, in fact, that I'm not entirely sure I can dissolve the answer to my question from it :-) Therefore: could you, with the above in mind, highlight (in one sentence please) what the specific mistake is that you will (try to) avoid making? -- Fun will now commence -- Seven Of Nine, Ashes to Ashes, stardate 53679.4 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
On Sat, Mar 04, 2006 at 02:13:42PM +0100, Wouter Verhelst wrote: Hi, During DPL campaigning, it seems in for candidates to propose all sorts of Great Things they will try to do once elected. While this is obviously all interesting information, it leaves out something that, I think, is also fairly important: the things you think previous DPLs have done wrongly, and that you intend to do differently. So, my question: please name anyth behaviour or act you've observed with previous DPLs (naming the name of the respective DPL is not required) that you think was a mistake, and which you will try not to make during your term? Some DPL did not made quite enough status update. I think it is important to make monthly status update about every problems you are working on, even if you have nothing final to report. This relieve the others developers of the frustration of waiting for events without any way to make them happen. At least they know something is happening and thus are more patient. This reduce tension in the project. That is in part why I proposed to experiment with observers. Certainly I would try to have someone taking care I do monthly status update. Cheers, -- Bill. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Imagine a large red swirl here. pgp8GIlwvluHD.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
On Sat, Mar 04, 2006 at 02:13:42PM +0100, Wouter Verhelst wrote: During DPL campaigning, it seems in for candidates to propose all sorts of Great Things they will try to do once elected. While this is obviously all interesting information, it leaves out something that, I think, is also fairly important: the things you think previous DPLs have done wrongly, and that you intend to do differently. I'm going to really focus on what I want to achieve. I haven't promised that much, and certainly not things I think I cannot achieve -- although it'd be silly to presume I can achieve everything in my platform. Also, other than just limiting myself to certain areas, I'm also setting targets for myself that have real-world effect, and should mostly be of tangible benefit, rather than merely procedural. I have concrete ideas how I want to achieve my goals. As you can see from my answers to other questions, there are whole areas (such as NM) that I do think are important, but I won't make a priority of working on. Also, as I wrote in my platform, and elaborated on the lists later: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/02/msg00703.html, I've learned a lot from being in the DPL team of the past year, seeing some real DPL action from close by, working on some tough issues, and team dynamics in the context of Debian. To hilight some lessons: involving whole team (and making them feel responsible too, and in a much better position to assist on own initiative) by having leader@ go to the whole team; but at the same time, not rely on the success of the team (it should in all cases be a net-win in terms of what I/we will achieve); maintain a strict and focussed agenda; having a modest amount of serious reviews of DPL status. I do not believe in spending full-time time in the DPL position, that would IMHO be a sign that you're either not focussed enough, failing at management, or simply doing too much as DPL -- as stated in my platform, Debian works best and should work as a collection of individuals and teams on putting together our beloved OS, and the DPL (team) should work on improvements where needed. None of those improvements should ever be of immediate urgency. Whenever in Debian something needs to happen urgently, it'll be as part of some infrastructure team or so, or in any case, somewhere where the real work gets done. Not in the position that IMHO should merely ensure the real work can be done in the best possible circumstances. --Jeroen -- Jeroen van Wolffelaar [EMAIL PROTECTED] (also for Jabber MSN; ICQ: 33944357) http://Jeroen.A-Eskwadraat.nl -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
* Wouter Verhelst [EMAIL PROTECTED] [2006-03-04 14:13:42]: So, my question: please name any behaviour or act you've observed with previous DPLs (naming the name of the respective DPL is not required) that you think was a mistake, and which you will try not to make during your term? I will not underestimate the time and efford that the office of DPL requires. signature.asc Description: Digital signature
Re: Question for all candidates: what mistake will you _not_ make?
On Sat, Mar 04, 2006 at 02:13:42PM +0100, Wouter Verhelst wrote: Hi, During DPL campaigning, it seems in for candidates to propose all sorts of Great Things they will try to do once elected. While this is obviously all interesting information, it leaves out something that, I think, is also fairly important: the things you think previous DPLs have done wrongly, and that you intend to do differently. So, my question: please name anyth behaviour or act you've observed with previous DPLs (naming the name of the respective DPL is not required) that you think was a mistake, and which you will try not to make during your term? One of the most important things for me is keeping people informed. In the past, we have seen promises of regular communication that have not been kept. That's one thing I will do my utmost to avoid. -- Steve McIntyre, Cambridge, UK.[EMAIL PROTECTED] Welcome my son, welcome to the machine. signature.asc Description: Digital signature
