BanklessCN S3 Proposal Rev 1
Quick Update to S2 Structure Recap
Season 2 Proposal
In Season 2, we’ve adopted a flat organization structure with some degree of centralization to Champion, albeit some inefficient and monotonous activities (only translation tasks available only), for small operations it has worked so far. Please see schematic below for reference:
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Though execution and observations, there are some points to note (Points in Bold is what I consider most important):
- Currently the only activity we have is translation , which can be monotonous and towards end of season, there is not enough work for all contributors to participate.
- 1st AMA project and the creation of distribution nodes was initiated by our contributors, but there is a lack of process and success criteria is undefined.
- Whilst there was a S2 governance proposal, the focus was more on workflow and budget allocation. To extend beyond translation works, there is a lack of clarify which discourage further participation.
- BanklessCN produce content and engage Chinese community only, as a project under bDAO Translation Guild we risk alienating from bDAO due to lack of interactions.
- Contributor retention is an issue, we saw contributors come and go.
- Champion is overloaded from admin work and coordination of other initiatives.
- No clear direction for further revenue generation, this is why bDAO fund us now and hoping that we can be self-sufficient in the future.
S3 BanklessCN Governance Structure
Updated Mission Statement
- Onboard the next 1 Billion Crypto Users to the concept of Bankless/ Open Finance
- Springboard for onboarding Chinese speaking contributors to boarder bDAO activities, guilds, projects, governance etc.
Reference
Governance Structure Detail Breakdown
0.Translator’s Guild Involvement
Direct coordination on resource and guild related initiative with Translators Guilder (TG), afterall BanklessCN is an IMN project initiative under TG until such time we are ready to launch subDAO.
0.1 TG will propose and submitted seasonal budget proposal to Grant Committee for approval, and IMN (incl. Bankless) will be allocated some grants and a set amount to be unlocked based on performance of KPIs, this amount is Season 3 budget for BanklessCN as currently we cannot confirm other funding stream.
BanklessCN participants should get in touch with 0.1 bDAO Obuds for disagreements that couldn’t be resolved internally, and seek mediation and and arbitrations.
1.BanklessCN Contributors
Everyone is welcomed to join and contributor to BankelssCN’s tasks, projects, operations etc, in a way that suits their availability, skill sets and interests.
I recommend those who completed at least 1 task in season 2 to apply for core team role, as the role requires at least 3 month commitments (duration of Season 3 from Jan 2021 to April 2022) and some knowledge into how things works here.
2.BankelssCN Core Team
Core Team is a new structure proposed for Season 3 that aims to address some of the issues we raised earlier, namely to lead more activities for participation, to further participate overall bDAO operations, and to lead initiatives that will potentially generate revenue beyond TG grant.
One of the Core Team member shall be IMN Champion noted below to liaise with TG but overall the team is accountable together.
The Role
2.1 Governance Lead is designed to manage governance and operation aspects of BanklessCN. He/she will lead the topic listed below, with the help of other contributors on ad hoc bases.
Governance lead will also post and manage 3.1 Translator Job Board, this involves posting translation jobs, update reviewer, publisher information and task status till the piece is published on our Substack.
Focus for this season:
Revamp BanlessCN notion page into categories and topics that is easy to read and work with.
Improve/ update Onboarding Documents to provide clarity to new contributors and existing contributors.
Participation in TG Governance activities as a minimum i.e. join conversations on new initiatives & proposal discussion, involve BanklessCN resource when necessary.
Reporting and account management on spending and during community calls.
2.2 Business Development Lead will ensure BanklessCN is ontrack with our founding mission - a Chinese Media Node spreading the Bankless message and develop a revenue stream outside of bDAO grant for BanklessCN and TG.
Currently there are many opportunity across different DAO for paid translation service or sponsorship deals, these opportunities will not materialize unless we pursue them relentlessly. Given BD will benefit other IMN as well so is best to liaise with TG and other IMN and hunt together.
Focus for this season:
Participate in critical BD/ revenue generating initiative with TG and IMN. e.g. Grant Application and Sponsorship Proposal
Lead CN specific BD projects/ ideas/ collaboration with other DAOs as necessary
Oversee and evaluate Distribution Nodes incl. Substacks, 8btc, weibo etc
2.3 and 2.4 Project Leads will each lead at least 3 x projects initiative for Season 3 and recruit project team, the goal is to execute and deliver cornerstone project that involves 1) BankelssCN contributors and 2) across bDAO guilds for seasons to come.
Projects should not be limited in anyways as long as they align with bDAO mission and a MVP shall be delivered as minimum.
e.g. JohnChen had an idea of utilising machine learning to generate audio reading of weekly rollups in Chinese matched up visual assist. This kind of project can potentially benefit the whole bDAO operation, so one could, per bDAO project proposal procedure, and seek collab/ involve other guild membership of non-Chinese speaking background to execute the idea. Of course this will not be easy, but you get the idea.
Focus for this season:
Initate, plan, onboard contributors, execute and deliver projects benefiting BanklessCN and bDAO as a whole
Propose project budget and report spending
3.BanklessCN Activities and Projects
This section outlines the scope of involvement for all Season 3 participants in BanklessCN.
3.1 Translation Job Board is critical in achieving our KPIs and unlock full grant from TG, this should also be our bread-and-butter tasks for new comers to try out, to provide our readership with latest bDAO contents and improve our language and editing skills.
I recommend we follow S2 pay structure 500 BANK to translators, 250 BANK to Reviewer. With Decentralized Law, translator receive 750 BANK, reviewer receives 400 BANK.
3.2 Bounty Board lists discretionary, Ad hoc tasks which requires less than 8 hours of committed on single or multiple engagement. This is a flexible space for Core Team to post tasks that doesn’t constitutes a project, examples such as Design a banner/ artwork for BanklessCN Twitter or write up one section of the Onboarding Doc.
3.3 Project Board lists project initiatives for project team to take on.
To narrow the scope, projects consist of:
- at least 2 people to form a project team,
- either Project Leads or one of the contributor can lead the project delivery
- have defined goal e.g. AMA to pump Twitter followers, generate revenue via advertising and collab with other DAO, discover bDAO produce original content to bridge bDAO knowledge, or creating Onboarding Doc can also be a project
- generally requires commitment and hard work over a period of time till fruition
- may require funding allocation
- fit into value alignment
I have listed some project initiatives to start with together with their value alignment.
3.4 How to Initiate a Project?
Below workflow is what I consider a minimum workflow:
Projects listed above
- Project Leads create notion page for interest contributors to register availability, skill sets and other comments as needed
- Identify Lead for the project, this can be Project leads or anyone can commit time and work
- Utilise Notion page as workspace - plan, execute and deliver project. Liase with bDAO, TG as needed.
- You need to propose how much bank you require and how you will spend them, this cost proposal ( can be just exel tables) will need to be submit to the Core Team for decisions. You may be rejected for funding but you will be provided feedback for improvement, and you can always try again.
Projects not listed above
- Project Lead or anyone can propose new project ideas, this should be brought up in CN channel and see if there is a general interest of contributors.
- Once there is interest, it’s time to find your team members (at least 2 ppl in a project team) and refine your idea into a Notion Page proposal.
- Present the proposal to the channel and raise a Poll, I recommend at least 5 positive vote to kickstart the project.
- If you do not require funding then you are free to execute the idea, but you should keep Core Team or Project Lead informed as you are may be liaised with Bankelss brand and everyone has a obligation to protect the Bankless brand from misuse.
- If you require funding, you need to propose how much bank you require and how you will spend them, this cost proposal ( can be just exel tables) will need to be submit to the Core Team for decisions. You may be rejected for funding but you will be provided feedback for improvement, and you can always try again.
Additional Notes
Re Core Team 1:
Note during last community call, I may have mentioned having 2 people team up and take up a role, but after revisiting this thought, I no longer think this is a good idea as too many opinion would not help with execution and it will unnecessarily crowd the core team.
Also Core Team Role only last for Season 3, I propose Season 4 all roles to be re-elected.
Re Core Team 2:
To address issue of absence and offboarding, as shit happens sometimes, I propose some ground rules here:
- If one cannot commit time to the role, one simply should not apply. Expect minimum 8 hours per week over 3 months period.
- Life gets in the way sometimes we understand, if you are not available for 1-2 weeks please inform everyone and ensure you hand-over some of your work as needed.
- If you are absence for more than 2 weeks then your compensation will be deducted pro quota and you may be subject to “non-confidence” Vote
- If you are being a bad actor or not being helpful in the eyes of other contributors, this matter should take up the bDAO Obuds for further conversation and action, anyone can initiative this chat with Obuds but need to inform the community. Additionally you may be subject to “non-confidence” Vote
- Core team can create a poll for “non-confidence” Vote and put to the community for a vote, if yes to “off-board” receives higher vote than no to “off-board”, then the offboarding is effective immediately. Note core team member’s vote count as 2 votes.
- Governance Lead or member of Core Team to
- close off the compensation account and finalise last pay accordingly less the absence period if any.
- create poll for replacement and everyone can apply, after collecting all interested candidate, voting is then required to decide who will be the replacement. Note core team member’s vote count as 2 votes.
Available budget = 75,000k BANK if:
- Translate every month
- Any one of the bDAO newsletter.
- Any one of the HQ newsletter.
- Own newsletter which is a mashup of bDAO/HQ newsletters.
- Achieve 25% month to month growth
- +/- 600 followers by Jan 2021
- +/- 750 followers by Feb 2021
- +/- 950 followers by Mar 2021
- OR Bring in sponsorship and benefit IMN as a whole
- OR produce podcast or youtube video