Governance Model
Establish a project guide for effective open source governance.
Example GOVERNANCE.md template rendering
Introduction
Background: A governance model is essential for government-sponsored open source projects, particularly for medium and large-sized teams. It helps in liberal acceptance of public contributions while retaining decision-making authority with funding sources. This guide provides a template to integrate a generalized governance model into your project, promoting clear operational structure and community engagement.
Use Cases:
- Structuring decision-making processes in open source projects.
- Balancing open contribution with authoritative project direction.
- Establishing clear roles and responsibilities within the project team.
Prerequisites
- Understanding of open source project management.
- Familiarity with Markdown for editing GitHub documentation.
Quick Start
Governance Model Template (see example)
Access our recommended template to start integrating a governance model into your project.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Team Consultation: Collaborate with your team and stakeholders to discuss adopting the governance model template. You'll want to consider topics like:
- Roles (and how contributors can be promoted between roles)
- Committees (the groups that guide your project)
- Customize the Template:
- View and download our Governance Model Template.
- Place the template in a
GOVERNANCE.md
file within the root folder of your repository. - Modify and personalize the template, replacing
[INSERT ...]
text with specifics for your project.
- Implement the Governance Model:
- Commit the
GOVERNANCE.md
file to themain
branch. - Link to the governance document in your
README.md
file under theContributing
section.
- Commit the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What is the importance of a governance model in open source projects?
- A: It provides a framework for decision-making, contribution processing, and project management, ensuring transparent and structured project operations.
- Q: What is the role of the Technical Steering Committee (TSC) in this governance model?
- A: The TSC handles technical decisions, governance processes, and maintains collaborator lists, playing a key role in guiding the project's technical aspects.
- Q: How are conflicts resolved in this governance model?
- A: The model advocates for consensus-seeking; however, if consensus cannot be reached, the Product Manager has final authority, ensuring decision-making progresses.
- Q: Can the governance structure be modified as the project evolves?
- A: Yes, the model is flexible and can adapt to changing project needs, subject to agreement by the Project Steering Committee (PMC) and stakeholders.
Credits
Authorship:
Acknowledgements:
This template was developed by evaluating best GOVERNANCE.md
practices in the following organizations:
Feedback and Contributions
We invite feedback and contributions to refine this guide. Visit our contribution guidelines.