I've wanted to post this proposal since a long time, but given that
Mozilla now needs to decide about both a CTO and CEO, I think this is a
good time:
I've always seen Mozilla as a project, not a company. And a project is
supported by its project members. Ultimately, in a non-commercial
project, big project decisions should be coming from the community at
large, not from top down. Big decisions are platform decisions like XUL
or HTML or native Android UI, should we do Metro or not etc., but also
leadership positions.
I imagine it roughly like this:
* A question comes up, either a lead position opens up, or there is
question about the general direction of the project
* The question is posted on a dedicated newsgroup reserved for such
matters
* Key community members voice their view on the matter
* We have a high-level discussion, preferably lightly moderated to
ensure that the posts are well-written arguments and not just heat.
Heat will be moderated out, to ensure that ratio rules.
* After 2-4 weeks, we call for a vote, and each commiter has a vote
* This decision is considered final
I think this would do the project good:
* More inclusive, voices are heard (which I currently personally feel
is not the case)
* We base our decision on a boarder scale of views and arguments than
a small group can
* The final decision is reflecting the views of the people who
actually need to carry it out. A "we" feeling.
* Dramas like the last week are avoided, because the voices are heard
before the decision, so nobody can complain after.
This is a big change in the nature of leadership at Mozilla, which so
far has been top-down.
I want to emphasize that this proposal is not a response to the last
week. I've believed since 10 years that this would be a good change.
Ben
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