Mel.eth
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Date
Feb 19, 2024
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- Name: Mel.eth
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Interviewer Observations
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- Mel and Artem discuss the process of decision-making and facilitation in decentralized organizations (DAOs). They touch upon topics such as tooling, facilitation, governance, alignment among stakeholders, communication channels (e.g., Discord), proposal creation and synthesis, efficiency in decision-making processes, success criteria/metrics for accountability purposes. Mel shares insights from their experience working with DAOs like Index Coop and emphasizes the importance of understanding stakeholder motivations to achieve alignment. The conversation also touches on Bloom's taxonomy as a framework for learning and information processing.
- Mel shared his experience at Index Coop, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to governance. Artem argued that the process begins earlier with surveys and workshops to identify problems and write proposals. The conversation also touched on the importance of alignment in decentralized systems, and how [physical planning] can help achieve alignment among core team members. Artem raised the question of how to achieve alignment without relying on voting mechanisms, while Mel discussed the challenges of aligning incentives in decentralized systems.
Mel underscores the importance of communication in building a well-functioning DAO: "I think all of governance is a communication function between always two things, but always more of something and less of something." Effective communication bridges the gap between diverse stakeholder groups – token holders, founders, and investors – each with their own motivations and priorities.
Finding alignment among these groups is crucial, as Mel highlights: "We literally went to the founder and said, here's our treasury, here's what we do, here's what we can liquefy without actually raising any alarms... And so to pull together the constituency and say you're all connected through us." By fostering open dialogue and understanding stakeholder needs, DAOs can navigate potential conflicts and collaboratively chart their course.
Mel sheds light on the practical realities of DAO governance through her experience at Index Coop. He describes an iterative budget process where a top-down approach was eschewed: "We literally went to the founder and said, here's our treasury, here's what we do... When we crunch the numbers 27 times to make sure they're right." This bottom-up approach ensures stakeholders have a voice and fosters a sense of ownership.
At the heart of Mel's approach is the art of engagement. "Facilitating a DAO is like herding cats... but with a strategic end goal," he articulates. This analogy underscores the complexity of guiding a diverse group towards unified objectives. Mel employs a mix of intrigue and occasionally adopts an adversarial stance to ignite participation. He emphasizes, "Introducing a little bit of intrigue and playing an adversarial role to inspire action," showcasing the necessity of varied tactics to keep members actively involved.
Mel highlights the importance of proposals within the DAO framework, particularly those set up for failure. "Putting a proposal forward that you know is going to fail is important for visibility," he points out. This strategy isn't about the failure per se but about sparking dialogue, raising awareness, and fostering a culture of proactive problem-solving within the DAO.
A significant part of Mel's facilitation philosophy revolves around maintaining a balance between democratic processes and the efficiency required to achieve goals. He stresses the importance of keeping facilitation processes "clean and to the point," essential for reaching consensus. This balance is crucial in ensuring that governance structures support rather than hinder the DAO's progress.
Mel also discusses the critical aspect of alignment within the DAO, particularly through the lens of Bloom's Taxonomy. This framework aids in understanding and facilitating complex decision-making processes. "It's about aligning actions with overarching goals," Mel explains, highlighting the need for proposals to not only be cohesive but also contribute toward the larger objectives of the DAO.
Outline
Governance and decision-making in a decentralized organization.
Decision-making processes and proposal writing.
Using Bloom's Taxonomy for effective communication and collaboration.
Communication frameworks and decision-making processes.
Decision-making processes for decentralized communities.
Aligning goals and motivations in a decentralized organization.
Aligning incentives in decentralized organizations.
Efficiency, engagement, and quality control in governance.
Decentralized governance and token economics.
Introduction to the Process of Figuring Out the DAO (00:00-00:11)
- Mel Discusses the process of figuring out who is involved in the DAO and ensuring its survival.
Different Approaches to Governance (00:24-01:26)
- Artem Asks about different approaches and tools used in governance, such as surveys and workshops.
- Mel Explains the role of tooling and facilitation in the governance process.
- Mentions the rules laid out by the founders.
Inspiring Involvement in the Process (02:57-04:11)
- Mel Talks about inspiring people to get involved in the governance process.
- Mentions using intrigue and being a DAO governance facilitator.
Bloom's Taxonomy and Proposal Synthesis (09:56-11:47)
- Mel Introduces Bloom's taxonomy as a framework for learning and thinking.
- Explains how synthesis is crucial in the proposal process.
- Discusses using Bloom's taxonomy to get contributors involved in the DAO.
Aligning Objectives and Department Level Meetings (12:25-14:33)
- Mel Talks about aligning department objectives and resourcing proposals.
- Mentions using workshops and introducing taxonomy language.
- Discusses the importance of addressing understanding gaps in proposals.
Learning about Bloom's Taxonomy (14:44-15:19)
- Artem Asks how Mel learned about Bloom's taxonomy.
- Mel Explains that a teacher taught them the framework for information retention.
Communication Framework and Tools (19:23-21:26)
- Artem Asks about the communication framework and tools used.
- Mel Discusses creating communication channels and using existing tools within the DAO.
Creating Alignment and Presenting Goals (26:12-28:47)
- Mel Talks about the process of creating alignment and presenting goals.
- Mentions involving stakeholders and presenting slide decks.
Governance and Accountability (32:32-39:20)
- Mel Discusses the importance of clear governance messages.
- Talks about accountability and quality control in the proposal process.
Working with Stakeholders and Constituency (43:16-44:48)
- Mel Discusses working with stakeholders and connecting the constituency.
- Mentions answering to investors and ensuring alignment in decision-making.
Conclusion and Future Discussions (44:52-48:20)
- Artem Expresses appreciation for the conversation and interest in future discussions.
- Mel Offers to continue the conversation and stay updated on progress.
Notes:
- Different tools used for governance include surveys, workshops, and Miro boards.
- Bloom's taxonomy is a framework used for learning and organizing information.
- Bloom's taxonomy is used to drill information and improve understanding during workshops.
- It helps in analyzing and synthesizing proposals.
- The communicative framework of Bloom's taxonomy is used when interacting with different parties.
- It is used to introduce a common language and ensure a comprehensive analysis of proposals.
- The goal is to encourage department-level meetings and collaboration among contributors.
- The main stakeholders need to align their goals and present them to the community.
- Using Bloom's taxonomy helps identify gaps in analysis and understanding.
- Bloom's taxonomy was learned in a biology class.
- It helps in drilling massive amounts of information into memory.
- It enables clear communication and expression of ideas.
- Communication tools like Zoom and slide decks are used to facilitate discussions.
- Efficiency, engagement, and quality control are important aspects of using surveys and workshops.
- Metrics can be used to measure the effectiveness of the governance process.
- The constituency is connected through the organization and needs to work together to determine budgets and decisions.
- The speaker has published something about Bloom's taxonomy.
- Ongoing communication and updates are welcomed.
Action Items
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Gain alignment among the workers (contributors) by inspiring each department to submit their own proposal for resourcing and meeting overall objectives.
Run workshops to discuss deadlines, requirements, and expectations for proposals.
Use Bloom's taxonomy as a framework for learning and drilling information into oneself for presentations and discussions.
Use communication channels such as Discord or Telegram to talk to stakeholders and gather input on goals, motivations, and success criteria.
Match stakeholder motivations with the goals of the Dow to create alignment.
Consider efficiency in decision-making processes by using tools like Harmonica to engage more people, save time compared to traditional methods like forums or workshops, and ensure quality control through specific questions and inputs.
These action items focus on effective communication, understanding stakeholder motivations, creating alignment among contributors, utilizing tools for engagement and efficiency, and incorporating metrics or success criteria in planning processes.