# Working with Bocoup to Clarify OpenRefine Mission, Vision, and Values **URL:** \ **Category:** Community announcements\ **Created:** [April 4, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433 "2024-04-04T18:42:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/martin/32/7_2.png) [@Martin](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/1 "2024-04-04T18:42:55Z")
Following my conversation last year with OpenRefine contributors, the Advisory Committee, and other open-source project leaders, I realized that the OpenRefine mission and vision are not clearly defined. While we all contribute to OpenRefine for various personal reasons, we lack an explicit common ground to guide the project's long-term decisions. A shared vision will help us to - Attract and onboard new contributors and position OpenRefine with partners by helping them understand the project direction; - Improve communication within the community by establishing a shared set of values and expectations; - Evaluate how new ideas align with our roadmap. As stated in my post, [Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024 as OpenRefine Project Manager](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/reflecting-on-2023-and-looking-ahead-to-2024-as-openrefine-project-manager/1164), we have been looking for a strategic consultant to facilitate the process. The Advisory Committee reached out to seven strategic consultants and made the decision to work with [Bocoup](https://bocoup.com/). As part of its mission, Bocoup will work toward obtaining community consensus regarding OpenRefine's Mission, Vision, and Values. We are not looking for comprehensive strategic planning exercises. Our expectation is that Bocoup will engage with our diverse contributors and user base to build a consensus that represents our different communities. Bocoup is a justice-focused consulting firm that partners with tech companies, web standards bodies, online communities, and nonprofits. They started in 2009 with a focus on open-source ethics and have since partnered on a range of organizational strategy, engineering, and design projects that seek to advance equity and inclusion on the web. As part of their Advising service, Bocoup works with teams and organizations to imagine, define, or iterate on core principles, structures, and processes that impact organizational/product health and effectiveness. I am attaching the Bocoup Statement of Work and work plan for the next three months. [Statement of Work- OpenRefine + Bocoup Community-Driven Mission, Vision, and Values-Setting Project - March 2024.pdf](https://forum.openrefine.org/uploads/short-url/tQJ3AIySj6GLqxE8QwP7CgYtHO6.pdf) (438.0 KB) ---
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/martin/32/7_2.png) [@Martin](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/2 "2024-04-26T15:15:47Z")
I met with the team at Bocoup last week to discuss their review of the existing materials (which is what is publicly available on the forum, GitHub, and website). They also shared their timeline for the rest of the project, which is outlined below. We will provide another update by the end of next week once the engagement mechanism is identified. | Calendar week starting on | Project week | Task (high-level) | | --- | --- | --- | | April 1 | 0 | Kickoff meeting | | April 8 | 1 | Gather & review existing materials | | April 15 | | [Bocoup closed] | | April 22 | 2 | Continue to review existing materials Interview with @Martin | | April 29 | 3 | Identify gaps in the existing research Identify engagement mechanism for supplementary research Begin planning scheduling supplementary research | | May 6 | 4 | Conduct supplementary research, pending research needs | | May 13 | 5 | Conduct supplementary research, pending research needs | | May 20 | 6 | Conduct supplementary research, pending research needs | | May 27 | 7 | Conduct supplementary research, pending research needs | | June 3 | 8 | Synthesize research findings Discuss learnings with OpenRefine’s project manager | | June 10 | 9 | Identify engagement mechanism for input on draft materials Draft Vision, Mission and Values | | June 17 | 10 | Share draft Vision, Mission, and Values Conduct 2-3 rounds of facilitated input gathering | | June 24 | 11 | Continue conducting facilitated input gathering | | July 1 | 12 | Continue conducting facilitated input gathering | | July 8 | | [Bocoup closed] | | July 15 | 13 | Update materials based on feedback received | | July 22 | 14 | Deliver final materials Conduct handoff meeting | ---
**Author:** ![thadguidry](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/thadguidry/32/653_2.png) [@thadguidry](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/thadguidry)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/3 "2024-04-26T23:15:54Z")
What ELSE will be in the Final Materials delivered? 1. Vision, Mission, and Values 2. ??? 3. ??? ---
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/martin/32/7_2.png) [@Martin](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/4 "2024-04-27T19:30:34Z")
@thadguidry they are focusing on the Mission, Vision and Value solely. As outline in the SOW attached in my initial message their final deliverables are - Deliver final materials, including community-driven Vision, Mission, and Values Statements, and high-level next steps for socializing them - Conduct handoff meeting, including final feedback gathering on the experience ---
**Author:** ![thadguidry](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/thadguidry/32/653_2.png) [@thadguidry](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/thadguidry)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/5 "2024-04-27T23:19:39Z")
👍 Gotcha. Vision is going to be the hardest to get community consensus upon. Henceforth, it will likely encourage it to be overly broad. However, it should really strike a balance and always set a future-forward tone forever. My previous unshared thoughts when I was thinking of setting up the non-profit foundation was something along the lines of this: > VISION: Giving the world easier data organization and information sharing through intuitive software and tools ---
**Author:** ![thadguidry](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/thadguidry/32/653_2.png) [@thadguidry](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/thadguidry)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 9:18am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/6 "2024-05-28T09:18:21Z")
Steve Jobs once said: > We believe that people with passion can change the world for the better. Rephrasing for us might look like: > We believe that people with a passion for data can change the world for the better ---
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/martin/32/7_2.png) [@Martin](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/working-with-bocoup-to-clarify-openrefine-mission-vision-and-values/1433/7 "2024-07-30T17:43:14Z")
As we are reaching out the end of Bocoup engagement you can read the latest updated on this topic: [Feedback Request on OpenRefine's Draft Vision, Mission, Values](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/feedback-request-on-openrefines-draft-vision-mission-values/1619)