Cultivating Community

Best Practices for Overcoming Challenges to Collaboration

Leslie HawthornRed Hat

@lhawthorn

The Human Element in DevelopmentWhy Focus on Collaboration and Community?

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The Value of Open

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“Open source is how innovation is happening.”

– Jim WhitehurstCEO, Red Hat

Rules of Engagement

We have many rules and guidelines for sharing code.

We do not have rules or well defined processes for our interpersonal interactions.

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The Challenge of Innovation

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Creating consensus within a global team, despite numerous logistical barriers

Mitigating DifficultiesSolutions for a Few Common Problems – Non-Native English Speakers

● People are shy communicating in their non-native language

● Avoid the use of idiom unless you explain the reference

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● Contact submitter before providing review

● Offer help first, criticism second!

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Mitigating DifficultiesSolutions for a Few Common Problems – Contributor Embarrassment

● These people are often your “rock stars”

● Understand escalation path for communication

● It is OK to walk away

Mitigating DifficultiesSolutions for The Most Common of Problems – Difficult People

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● Harvard Law School Project on Negotiation

● Extensive use in a variety of difficult situations, including Middle East Peace Process

● We don’t realize how many of our conversations are negotiations

Source: Harvard Negotiation Project Website

Mitigating DifficultiesCreating Consensus Using Negotiation Theory

Negotiation Theory BasicsInterests vs. Positions

Focusing on positions instead of interests...

precludes finding optimal solutions

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“There is no one right way to do things.”

– Larry WallCreator of Perl

What About Those ‘Difficult’ People?

● Be polite

● Be clear about your goals

● Be professional in your communication

● It is OK to walk away

Smoothing the WatersTips for Recovering from Difficult Conversations

Randy Pausch Memorial Fence, Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley Campushttp://www.flickr.com/photos/85059137@N00/2710097713/

Thank youfor your attention

Leslie HawthornLinaro Connect Europe 2013

@lhawthornslideshare.net/lhawthorn

Further Resources

● Project on Negotiation at Harvard Law School: http://bit.ly/HarvardNegotiation

● David Eaves on Negotiation Theory in Open Source Projects: http://eaves.ca/tag/open-source/

● Center for Non-Violent Communication: http://www.cnvc.org/

● Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture: http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/

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Appendix – Additional Slides

Creating Consensus

The Power of Empathy

Transparency is required for open source approaches and methodologies to work.

Transparency creates empathy.

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Understanding Cultural NormsEmpathy Helps Us to “Meet People Where They Are”

We can’t talk to anyone!

Don’t drop software on us and run away!

No one notices us!

My patch was rejected; I should not participate

in open source.

Focusing on InterestsAchieving Consensus and Setting Goals Collaboratively

Understanding our colleagues’ needs allows for more rapidly achieving consensus and invites collaborative goal setting