Tomada de decisão técnica
 | For continuous improvement, we are currently conducting a retrospective on the technical decision process.
More information about the retrospective is available. |
O processo de tomada de decisão técnica da Wikimedia capacita as equipes a tomar decisões que são informadas por algum especialista das equipes, afiliados e grupos voluntários da Fundação Wikimedia.
Sobre o processo de tomada de decisão
Os objetivos principais do processo de tomada de decisão técnica:
- Tornar o processo mais inclusivo mudando para a representação por equipes/grupos, ao invés de indivíduos
- Ter cronogramas claros para quando uma decisão for tomada
- Seja claro desde o início sobre quais partes interessadas estão envolvidas
- Desenvolva um ciclo de vida claro de uma decisão
Os principais componentes do processo:
- Fórum de decisão técnica composto por representantes dos departamentos de produtos e tecnologia da Fundação Wikimedia, Wikimedia Deutschland e +2 colaboradores independentes
- Modelos para declarações de problemas e registros de decisão
Quando usar o processo
O processo de tomada de decisão técnica deve ser usado em qualquer circunstância em que o impacto da decisão seja sentido além da equipe que toma essa decisão. Isso inclui decisões que têm um impacto significativo no código e no software implantado na infraestrutura de produção da Wikimedia.
Modelos
O processo de tomada de decisão usa modelos padrão para documentar e orientar as decisões.
-
Problem statement template -
Responsibility assignment matrix (RACI) template -
Decision record template
Decision records
The final artifact of the process is a decision record. Visit the decisions page to read decision records that have completed the process.
Process flow
O processo de tomada de decisão é uma sequência de etapas para ajudar os tomadores de decisão a definir um problema, coletar feedback, pesquisar soluções e documentar a decisão.
1. Identify the decision team and project owner
To start the process there needs to be a decision team and a proposal owner who will work through the process from start to finish. The decision team and the proposal owner is the group driving the decision. Usually the decision team is a Wikimedia Foundation team, affiliate team, or volunteer group. The project owner is the member of the decision team responsible for guiding the decision through the process.
If a decision has a wide impact, the decision team can include people from different teams. For example, the decision to implement the Vue.js framework was made by a cross-functional working group. It is crucial that who is accountable for the decision has the resources and the authority to act on that decision.
2. Define the problem statement
To start the decision making process, the project owner should use the problem statement template to open a task on the workboard in Phabricator.
Once a task is created, the Technical Decision Forum project manager copies the problem statement into a Google Doc and shares it with the project owner and the Forum chairs to review, add comments, and discuss. Forum chairs have one week to review the problem statement and provide feedback to the decision team. There will be at least one office hours with Chairs and the decision team to discussion and sign-off the final version of the Problem Statement.
Once the project owner is ready to share the revised problem statement, the Forum project manager adds a link to the Google Doc in the original Phabricator task.
Touch points
- Office hours
- Phabricator
3. Get feedback from the Decision Forum
Once the problem statement is finalized, the Technical Decision Forum Representatives will review the problem statement and provides feedback to the decision team. Forum Representatives are expected to share their feedback within one week. The feedback answers these questions:
- Is the problem statement correct?
- Is it clear how solving this problem supports Wikimedia goals (movement strategy, medium term plan, annual plan, etc.)?
- Are these the right stakeholders?
- Is the needed subject matter expertise to make a decision reflected accurately? Are the right groups outlined in the problem statement?
The Forum project manager is responsible for requesting review from Forum members and sharing Forum feedback with the project owner.
Touch points
- Office hours
- Technical Decision Forum Google Group
- Phabricator
- Google Docs
- Slack
4. Research and prototype
Once the Forum has provided feedback on the problem statement, the decision team begins researching and prototyping solutions. This phase should have a well-defined scope and time frame.
The decision team is responsible for checking in with the Forum every two weeks to share their progress. This is the time when stakeholders engage with the decision team, further models are developed, and prototyping occurs as needed.
Touch points
- Technical Decision Forum
- Demonstrations during office hours
- Retrospectives
- Phabricator
- Progress announcements in decision making process updates
Executive review
For larger, more impactful decisions, system-level tradeoffs, or decisions that greatly impact the community, demonstration of the problem statement is done for relevant executives, typically the Chief Technology and Product Officer (CTPO) of the Wikimedia Foundation. The CTPO delegates a representative to review the problem statement and flag for executive review.
5. Make the decision
Once the decision team has engaged all the stakeholders outlined in the problem statement and (if required) reviewed with executives, the team can make the decision.
Touch points
- Technical Decision Forum
- Phabricator
- Decision announcement in in decision making process updates
6. Publish decision record
Once a decision has been made, the decision team publishes the decision record to the decisions page.
Questions and feedback
Questions and feedback are always welcome. Contact us at TDFsupport@wikimedia.org.
Background
The technical decision making process was adopted in 2020 as an evolution of the Requests for comment (RFC) process (TechCom). To learn more, visit the background page.