Talk:Draft budget guidelines

From Critical Practice Chelsea

- (Very interested in your guidelines. Is there a page where we can discuss them? - Jem)

Hi Jem, top of every page has a DISCUSSION tab, click this for discussion and comentary. I've synthesized and distilled and added from the presentations, and various discussions on this wiki. feel free to contibute--Neil 09:05, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your contribution, Neil. That's a great start.

What I would like to propose is to copy the guidelines that you have written out and directly interact with them, within the discussion page. How does this sound with you? I could write in italics so you see the difference.

The one thing that I would say, overall, is that I would like to see the initial context for where each guideline comes form. Would that be possible? Sometimes, I know they are drawn together from several different sources but I think it would be useful to know how a particular guideline arises. It would provide an academic structure to argue from, rather than a set of opinions.

'I think this would be tricky now given the sources are so varied; presentations, reflection, wikipedia. etc. We could add a resource section though?--Neil 10:14, 6 July 2008 (UTC)

Here they are:

  1.  Resource allocation should always be organised around clearly articulated, tasks, services, needs, goods or projects. Although, these can always be subject to review

- this is a great list of aspects that need attention from the allocation of resources. Perhaps 'people' could be included?

makes sense

  2. For each project: 

       a) Estimate/allocate the appropriate resources 
       b) Estimate/record all the incomes (investments) 
       c) Estimate/record all the expenditure 
       d) Total your income and expenditures 
       e) Review 
       f) Make adjustments as necessary 

- Great stuff. Could we use Kolb's learning cycle in here? There is a lot of past/future estimations going on here. Perhaps we can simplify a little?

No idea what Kolb's learning cycle is. The past -record, future- estimate is to accomodate the twin functions of resource planning - future, and accounting -past actions.

It's not that confusing to me........?

  1. Always invest for future gain, and try and build resources for others.
  2. Try to respect and evaluate different forms of income (investment) and expenditure - perhaps think of a 'total audit' of personal and collective time, energy, materials and space that make a project possible - the opportunity costs.

- Very important. I think we need to explain personal incentives a little more.

OK, do you want to try............

  3. Be transparent with the available financial resources; publish the financial resources (e.g. on a wiki), and clearly describe the process by which participants can access the funds. You could refer our Budget_Tables as templates.

- Transparency is crucial in open systems. I think an example like from Chelsea board meetings is perhaps very important here?

Not sure what you mean by Chelsea board meetings?

  4. Be clear who has permission to act, and who is empowered to make decisions - try to avoid the big other of hidden power and responsibility.

- Decision-making is the key issue. I think it is important that anyone who has been given an element of power is accountable for that power. How is permission granted and by who? And if someone has a problem with it, how can they voice their opinion?

- I think we should try to avoid jargon (e.g 'the big other')

OK point taken.

  5. Public transparency should guard against misuse and corruption.

Agreed - but is this repetition?

Maybe, but we could call it emphasis?

  6. Consider each case for funding, or demand upon resources in their own right. Precedents, although useful can be deceptive.

- Are we assuming that people are coming from an open system asking for funds from a closed system? Or are we the funders looking for suitable open plans to invest in?

I think we are trying not to assume to much, and we always imagined that the guidlines would act in conjunction with the Open Organization guidelines.

  7. Use resource management as a plan for future action.

What do we mean here exactly? Are we saying that resources are the basis for future action? I wonder whether motivation is more important? I know motivation is a resource in itself, but maybe it is not something that we can quantify very easily?

You point is a bit esoteric for me. This guideline is to suggest using resources for planning future action, its active not passive. Not sure how to grapple with motivation - assuming its multiple and varied

  8. Use points of friction as opportunities for reflection and change; changes in practice and to the guidelines themselves.

- Nice one. Resolution of conflict always creates a new scenario I think.

great!

  9. Take responsibility, and don't look to apportion blame for the mistakes of others, especially the big other.

- Big thumbs up for this one!

even greater!

 10. There is no intrinsic value, be sensitive to the sacrifice implicit in one choice over another.

Sacrifice, is very important in open structures. How do we know when we are imposing sacrifice rather than allowing people to sacrifice?

Just a few mumblings - please don't take them as judgements on the initial 10 commandments - but maybe as discussion openers?

see what you make of the response, we need to finalize these soon for the publication, but we can keep modifying them

Definitely want to see how this works out