charter.mdwn

   1 # Libre-RISCV Member Charter Agreement
   2
   3 * Draft Status (v0)
   4 * Last Edited: 22 Sep 2019
   5
   6 This document is based on the Titanian's "Code of Honour" and on
   7 the Systemic Laws of Organisations, listed in "Invisible Dynamics".
   8
   9 # The Code of Honour
  10
  11 * Always do "good"
  12 * Never do "harm"
  13 * The Code applies 100% of the time
  14 * Everyone knows The Code
  15
  16 This Code is simple and short enough to memorise. "Good" is further defined
  17 to mean "increasing Truth, Awareness, Love or Creativity for one or more people
  18 including yourself" and "Harm" is defined as *reducing* any of those same
  19 four qualities for *anyone*.
  20
  21 However, The Code on its own, due to its minimalist nature, can be hard to
  22 apply when the chips are down, so we further augment it with the Systemic Laws,
  23 listed below.
  24
  25 Just as with The Code, the Systemic Laws are not optional.
  26
  27 # The Systemic Laws of Organisations.
  28
  29 The Systemic Laws are based primarily on respect, recognition, responsibility,
  30 and ownership of the same; on encouragement and allowing each contributor
  31 to grow and be part of the group.
  32
  33 * Everyone belongs; every contributor (users included), is recognised both
  34   in their own right as well as for their achievements and their contributions.
  35 * Everyone is respected and honoured, past and present.
  36 * Length of service is respected alongside and in balance with their level of
  37   expertise.
  38 * Everyone acknowledges and accepts their role and seniority, and in turn
  39   acknowledge and accept the role and seniority of others.
  40 * The responsibility to those we serve, when we take on a role of
  41   responsibility and power, is acknowledged and accepted.
  42 * Everyone is rewarded equitably for their contributions.
  43 * Everyone is responsible - and accountable - for their actions (good and bad:
  44   "Guilt" and "Merit" belong with whoever earned them).
  45
  46 The Systemic Laws are explained below.
  47
  48 ## Everyone belongs
  49
  50 Every contributor and their contributions and achievements are recognised.
  51 This further encourages people to contribute; they feel welcome, and their
  52 efforts valued.
  53
  54 ## Everyone is respected and honoured, past and present
  55
  56 When someone leaves a project, particularly under less than ideal circumstances,
  57 it is still vitally important to value and respect both them *and* their
  58 contributions.
  59
  60 ## Role, Seniority and Expertise are all respected.
  61
  62 This can be very challenging, particularly when someone with more expertise
  63 meets someone whose length of service is greater.
  64
  65 ## We accept the responsibility of our position
  66
  67 If we choose a position of responsibility, we must actually acknowledge and
  68 accept the responsibility of that role!  People will be relying on us.
  69
  70 ## Everyone is rewarded equitably for their contributions
  71
  72 In a "Libre" context this is often extremely hard to do, as the normal
  73 rules of profit-maximising business (do not provide goods or services
  74 until payment has been received) do not apply: our "product" - the
  75 source code - is made available at zero monetary cost.  So it is down
  76 to us to ensure that part of our time is spent ensuring that everyone
  77 is actually rewarded, whether through sponsorship, donations, crowd-funding
  78 and profit-sharing in the same, and so on.
  79
  80 ## Everyone is responsible and accountable (for the "good" *and* the "bad")
  81
  82 When we do something well, it is vital that we (alone) own and hold the
  83 credit for that achievement.  When we screw up, it is just as equally
  84 vital that we take responsibility for cleaning up our mess, and that
  85 nobody else is blamed *or think they own it*!  In this way, two things
  86 happen.  Firstly: we can rely on each other, as we trust that the tasks
  87 that others chose will be completed (even if they mess up a few times).
  88 Secondly: in our chosen opportunity to grow and learn, we know and trust
  89 that nobody will take that away from us, and that our achievements and
  90 the credit will be ours.
  91