Board/Council Diversity
Question: What is the diversity within a governing board or council?
Overview
A governing board (or council - hereafter governing board) is a group of individuals who steer an open source project. This metric evaluates the diversity within a governing board, which is the group that guides an open source project. Diversity can be represented in various forms, including racial diversity, ability, age, neurodiversity, geographical diversity, and others. A diverse governing board also increases the chance that the issues raised by members of diverse backgrounds are heard and understood. By measuring this metric, communities can assess the inclusivity of leadership and ensure that a wide range of perspectives are represented. Understanding board diversity can also highlight the presence of intersectionality, encouraging leaders to consider the complex identities of their members, and promoting health and sustainability in the project by fostering inclusivity at all leadership levels.
Want to Know More?
Data Collection Strategies
- Election Process Observation: Review community election processes to determine if efforts are made to ensure diverse candidate backgrounds.
- Board Demographics: Observe diversity on the governing board through information available on the project’s website (limitation: demographic data may not be visible).
- Diversity Information Requests: Request diversity data for board members directly from the project.
- Board Tenure Analysis: Assess turnover rates and if term limits are in place to encourage diverse membership over time.
- Community Perception Survey:
- Likert scale [1-x] item: "I feel represented by the board or council."
- Likert scale [1-x] item: "The board or council is attentive to people with different backgrounds and experiences within the project."
- Likert scale [1-x] item: "The board or council represents the diversity of the project community."
Filters
- Board Turnover: Frequency and regularity of member turnover
- Diversity Dimension: Types of diversity represented (e.g., racial, gender, geographical)
References
- OpenStack Foundation Annual Report 2018
- Linux Foundation on Diversity and Inclusiveness
- The Truth About Board Diversity
Contributors
- Justin W. Flory
- Kevin Lumbard
- Sean Goggins
- Yigakpoa L. Ikpae
Additional Information
To edit this metric please submit a Change Request here.
To reference this metric in software or publications please use this stable URL: https://chaoss.community/?p=3516
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