Re: [PATCH] Documentation: Linux Contribution Maturity Model and the wider community

[James Bottomley]

On Mon, Jun 19, 2023 at 07:41:57PM +1000, Finn Thain wrote:
> The Linux Contribution Maturity Model methodology is notionally based
> on the Open source Maturity Model (OMM) which was in turn based on
> the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI).
> 
> According to Petrinja et al., the goal of the OMM was to extend the
> CMMI so as to be useful both for companies and for communities
> [1][2].  However, the Linux Contribution Maturity Model considers
> only companies and businesses.

That's not a correct characterization.  The model is designed to
measure and be useful to businesses, but it definitely considers the
community because it's progress is built around being more useful to
and working more effectively with the community.

> This patch addresses this bias as it could hinder collaboration with
> not-for-profit organisations and individuals, which would be a loss
> to any stakeholder.

I don't really think changing 'Businesses' to 'Organizations' entirely
addresses what you claim is the bias because individuals would still be
excluded from the term 'Organizations'.  I also don't really think it
matters.  Part of the reason this whole thing doesn't matter is that
sometimes people do know who a contributor they work with works for,
but most of the time they don't.  If you really want this to be
inclusive, you could change it to 'other contributors' but I'm still
not sure it's worth it.

> 
> Level 5 is amended to remove the invitation to exercise the same bias
> i.e. employees rewarded indirectly by other companies.

I also wouldn't remove the bit about seeking upstream feedback on
employees; I know from personal experience it happens a lot.

Regards,

James