Slack Forces

This is a quick overview of the slack forces that we ought be mindful and aware of as we interact with the community. These knowledge were accumulated throughout the ProgCode lifetime, and past experience.

Chaos

We embrace the chaos of Slack, as it allows us to really see the dynamics of a network in play. Peer to peer communication, collaboration, all happening in channels, DMs, etc.

The main goal as staffers is to be able to embrace the chaos but at the same time make it manageable. This means we should be able to facilitate if needed, backoff when not. We should not dominate but support, and as staffers, our goal is to find opportunities of success for the members.

This means being able to provide channels of conversation in the right spaces.

Specifically, we need to realize that housekeeping in slack is mainly on shepherding unproductive and destructive talk to avenues that welcome it, such as dumpster-fire.

Ideation

Because of this chaos or constant collaborative energy in the community, we have to be able to open to any forms of ideas, and quelling ideas – shooting ideas down – is the most unproductive thing a staffer can possibly do. We will do everything we can to encourage conversations about ideas, and anything that is counterproductive to that will be grounds for a campaign for a staffer to be removed.

For more context on our culture on ideas, checkout our Medium post about it.

Channel Dynamics

A channel is a form of ownership by the channel creator. The creator has put a stake on the community by creating a channel that s/he is accountable to. We should respect this ownership and not intrued in the process they have set themselves to, we should facilitate collaboration within the channel if asked, or if our offers are accepted.

Stimulus

We as staffers have levers and mechanisms in place to induce stimulus to projects within the network.

Volunteers

The influx or any addition of quality development partners is a huge boost to the morale and joy of the app creators and the team behind these applications. It is in our best interest to bring volunteers onto their works to excite them and enjoy their stay in our community.

Network Effects

Being able to connect and provide value through the connections we have established within and outside the network.

Personal Relationships

Having a personal connection with the app creators really drive home the point that we are a ready framework of support, we come from a place of service and have their interest – not our individual interests – at heart. Coming from that place of interest will help flourish the community.

Archiving

Archiving is a high level act of dominance if not done right. This imposes an order from staffers – or anyone – if the buy-in of the channel creator was not acquired before such actions. As such, we go through a long process before archiving, because quelling a channel without any buyin from the creator not only induces a very bad rapport to the creator, but also sends a harsh signal to the community at large and may risk ruining the culture.