> > I think WMUK's tech needs are substantially more than 0.2 FTE. > I disagree; indeed no one has actually properly enumerated, in one place, all of the tech needs - so how we can be sure I don't know (hint: this is what I've been trying to prompt from the get go)
I don't know how much experience in technical management you have; but I have 4 years working as an independent contractor doing exactly that, and so far I've not seen anything that dramatically overreaches what it achievable in one day a week. And even if it does at least we will have a clearer idea of the new requirements - and can simply order projects by urgency. Sure, something might get left undone, but the alternative option at the moment appears to be leaving everything undone :) If you only have someone for one day a week, you don't need them to have a > wide array of skills since they won't have time to do a wide variety of > things. > In practice, and this is from experience, this is not true. Look the bottom line here is that we've had a big technical budget to hire a developer - that didn't work out. The new proposal on the 2013 ideas talk is ambitious and I suspect not going to get approved (and if it does will be very hard to pull off). Rather than sit on our hands for another year I am proposing a lightweight solution to meet some of our short term needs. If it only lasts a year and we find we need more, then it will be easier to justify in the budget... I am essentially offering free consultancy here; these are the sorts of questions I ask my clients - to enumerate their tech needs and develop work schedules and hiring strategies. If that doesn't appeal to you, or the ideas seem incompatible, then that's fine :) I feel obliged to do this because I moaned about the last attempt. But at least lend arguments to your assertions (even if it's simply "I've been a tech manager for 20 years" or something). Tom On 22 August 2012 19:04, Thomas Dalton <[email protected]> wrote: > I think WMUK's tech needs are substantially more than 0.2 FTE. If you only > have someone for one day a week, you don't need them to have a wide array > of skills since they won't have time to do a wide variety of things. > On Aug 22, 2012 3:40 PM, "Thomas Morton" <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Afternoon all, >> >> I've had some free time today so looked into the technical gap Wikimedia >> UK is facing (this is somewhat tied into the 2013 activity plan/budget). My >> understanding is that the developer job failed to recruit a suitable >> candidate<http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/2013_Activity_Plan/Ideas#Build_a_tech_team>. >> I've not seen any feedback on that, but at the time I did criticise the >> process and suggested this might happen (not intending to gloat, just >> pointing this out). >> >> One of the major problems, I think, was we wanted a multi-skilled >> individual with management experience... at a rate around £10,000 less than >> the average for London (and that is conservative). >> >> As I was such a staunch critic :) it seems only fair that I make the >> effort to submit a proposal I think would work out for us next year. To >> wit; I am proposing we fill the technology gap short term by contracting an >> individual one day per week. This will be a little more expensive than >> one-fifth of the full-time rate proposed before - but because it is >> contracted we are more likely to find someone able to address the varied >> requirements. >> >> My estimate for contractor cost + a technical budget (for servers, >> travel, etc.) is about £17,000 - just over half of this years budget. This >> based on my experience of doing similar work. >> >> The proposal is drafted here: >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ErrantX/2013_Developer_role >> >> If you have a moment to comment on it that would be great! Ideally the >> community needs to identify *exactly* what development needs it has - >> and establish some fixed goals for hiring. If we can do this I am confident >> we could fill this gap. >> >> And if it seems ridiculous say so :) I am simply trying to present a >> possible option. >> >> Cheers, >> Tom >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia UK mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >> >>
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