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Last modified by Robert Schaub on 2025/12/24 21:52
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1 = Organisational Model =
2 FactHarbor operates as a **Swiss Verein** (non-profit association) with a **simple, flat structure** focused on automation over bureaucracy.
3 == 1. Legal Structure ==
4 **Entity Type**: Swiss Verein (Association)
5 **Jurisdiction**: Switzerland
6 **Governed By**: Swiss Civil Code (Art. 60-79)
7 **Key Characteristics**:
8 * Non-profit purpose
9 * Member-based governance
10 * Democratic decision-making
11 * Limited liability
12 * Tax-exempt status (if public benefit)
13 == 2. Governance Structure ==
14 === 2.1 General Assembly ===
15 **Composition**: All Verein members
16 **Powers**:
17 * Elect Governing Team
18 * Approve annual budget
19 * Amend statutes
20 * Decide on major strategic changes
21 * Dissolve organization
22 **Meetings**: Annually (+ extraordinary as needed)
23 === 2.2 Governing Team ===
24 **Size**: small group
25 **Composition**:
26 * Facilitator (chair)
27 * Coordinator
28 * Treasurer
29 * 0-4 additional team members
30 **Term**: 2 years (renewable)
31 **Powers**:
32 * Strategic direction
33 * Budget approval
34 * Policy decisions
35 * Hiring/firing key staff
36 * Represent organization externally
37 **Meetings**: Quarterly (minimum)
38 === 2.3 Team Member Roles ===
39 **Philosophy**: Minimal team, automation-first. Team members improve the SYSTEM, not the DATA.
40 **Core Principle**: AKEL makes content decisions. Humans monitor system performance and improve algorithms.
41 **Essential Roles**:
42 **Technical Coordinator** (1 FTE):
43 * **Domain**: AKEL performance and infrastructure
44 * **Monitors**: Processing speed, error rates, resource utilization, algorithm performance metrics
45 * **Improves**: Algorithms, infrastructure optimization, processing efficiency
46 * **Does NOT**: Review individual claim verdicts, override AKEL decisions
47 * **Authority**: Approve technical changes within domain boundaries
48 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous within domain, consent for cross-domain changes
49 **Community Coordinator** (1 FTE):
50 * **Domain**: Community health and feedback loop optimization
51 * **Monitors**: User feedback patterns, contribution quality trends, community engagement
52 * **Improves**: Onboarding processes, documentation, feedback mechanisms, community guidelines
53 * **Does NOT**: Moderate individual disputes (AKEL handles), make content decisions
54 * **Authority**: Approve community process changes
55 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous within domain
56 **Moderators** (part-time):
57 * **Domain**: Handle AKEL-flagged escalations and system gaming
58 * **Monitors**: Items AKEL marks for human review (abuse, manipulation attempts)
59 * **Improves**: Detection algorithms based on observed patterns
60 * **Does NOT**: Routine content review, override AKEL verdicts
61 * **Authority**: Handle flagged items, propose detection improvements
62 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous for flagged items, propose improvements to Technical Coordinator
63 **Optional Contractors** (as needed):
64 * Developers: Specific feature development
65 * Data Scientists: Algorithm research and optimization
66 * Legal Counsel: Compliance and legal review
67 * Accountant: Annual audits
68 **Total Core Staff**: full-timeE + part-time moderators
69 **Key Distinction**:
70 * ✅ Team members monitor AGGREGATE metrics and improve SYSTEMS
71 * ❌ Team members do NOT review individual claims or override AKEL
72 * ✅ When metrics show problems, fix the ALGORITHM
73 * ❌ Do NOT manually correct individual outputs
74 === 2.3.5 Team Roles Diagram ===
75 {{include reference="FactHarbor.Specification.Diagrams.Human User Roles.WebHome"/}}
76 == 3. Decision-Making ==
77 === 3.1 Routine Operations ===
78 **Handled by**: Technical Coordinator + Community Coordinator
79 **Scope**:
80 * Day-to-day operations
81 * Content moderation (via moderators)
82 * Technical maintenance
83 * Minor policy clarifications
84 **Transparency**: All decisions documented
85 === 3.2 Strategic Decisions ===
86 **Handled by**: Governing Team
87 **Scope**:
88 * Budget allocation
89 * Major feature additions
90 * Policy changes
91 * Partnerships
92 * Hiring
93 **Process**: Majority vote (quorum: 50%+1)
94 === 3.3 Major Changes ===
95 **Handled by**: General Assembly
96 **Scope**:
97 * Statute amendments
98 * Dissolution
99 * Merger/acquisition
100 * Major strategic pivots
101 **Process**: 2/3 majority vote
102 == 4. User Community Roles ==
103 {{include reference="FactHarbor.Organisation.Diagrams.Governance Structure.WebHome"/}}
104 === 4.1 Readers ===
105 **Rights**:
106 * Browse content
107 * Flag issues
108 * Submit claims
109 **Responsibilities**:
110 * Respect community standards
111 * Provide constructive feedback
112 === 4.2 Contributors ===
113 **Reputation system** replaces role hierarchy. Earn through quality contributions.
114 **Requirements**:
115 * Register account
116 * Accept terms of service
117 * Build reputation through contributions
118 **Rights**:
119 * Edit claims, evidence, scenarios
120 * Participate in discussions
121 * Earn reputation points
122 **Responsibilities**:
123 * Maintain neutrality
124 * Cite sources
125 * Accept feedback graciously
126 === 4.3 Moderators ===
127 **Selection**:
128 * Appointed by Governing Team
129 * Must have high reputation
130 * Must have clean track record
131 **Rights**:
132 * Review flagged content
133 * Hide harmful content
134 * Issue warnings/bans
135 * Resolve disputes
136 **Responsibilities**:
137 * Impartiality
138 * Transparency
139 * Documented decisions
140 * Timely response
141 **Oversight**:
142 * Governing Team reviews moderator actions
143 * Can overturn decisions
144 * Annual performance review
145 == 5. Membership ==
146 === 5.1 Verein Membership ===
147 **Who can join**:
148 * Anyone supporting FactHarbor's mission
149 * Age 18+
150 * Accept statutes
151 **Membership fee**: Symbolic (e.g., CHF 20/year)
152 **Rights**:
153 * Vote in General Assembly
154 * Stand for Governing Team election
155 * Access to member-only information
156 * Participate in strategic discussions
157 **Termination**:
158 * Voluntary resignation
159 * Non-payment of dues (after warning)
160 * Serious violation of principles
161 * Decision by General Assembly
162 === 5.2 Contributor Status ===
163 **Separate from membership**: Can be contributor without being member
164 **Based on**: Activity and reputation
165 **No fees**: Open to all
166 == 6. Funding Model ==
167 === 6.1 Revenue Sources ===
168 **Primary**:
169 * Grants from foundations
170 * Donations from individuals
171 * Institutional partnerships
172 **Secondary**:
173 * API access fees (commercial users)
174 * Data licensing (with open data commitment)
175 * Training/consulting services
176 **Prohibited**:
177 * Advertising
178 * Selling user data
179 * Pay-for-rating
180 * Conflicts of interest
181 === 6.2 Budget Transparency ===
182 **Publicly disclosed**:
183 * Annual financial statements
184 * Major funding sources (>10% of budget)
185 * Team Members compensation ranges
186 * Major expenses
187 **Published**: On website, annually
188 == 7. Conflict of Interest Policy ==
189 === 7.1 Governing Team Members & Team Members ===
190 **Must disclose**:
191 * Financial interests
192 * Employment relationships
193 * Family connections
194 * Other potential conflicts
195 **Must recuse** from decisions where conflicted
196 === 7.2 Contributors ===
197 **Prohibited**:
198 * Direct financial stake in claim outcomes
199 * Paid to promote/attack specific claims
200 **Required**:
201 * Disclosure of other potential conflicts
202 * In evaluation history, not in account
203 == 8. Accountability Mechanisms ==
204 === 8.1 Internal ===
205 * Governing Team oversight of staff
206 * Regular audits (financial, security)
207 * Performance metrics published
208 * Community feedback channels
209 * Moderator appeal process
210 === 8.2 External ===
211 * Annual report to members
212 * Public financial statements
213 * Independent audits
214 * Media scrutiny
215 * Academic research welcome
216 === 8.3 Transparency Commitments ===
217 * Open source code
218 * Public data exports
219 * Documented decisions
220 * Algorithm transparency
221 * Quality metrics dashboard
222 == 9. Dispute Resolution ==
223 === 9.1 User Disputes ===
224 **Level 1**: Moderator decision
225 **Level 2**: Appeal to different moderator
226 **Level 3**: Governing Team review (final)
227 **Timeline**: Reasonable timeframe
228 === 9.2 Team Members/Governing Team Disputes ===
229 **Internal**: Direct discussion
230 **Mediation**: If needed, external mediator
231 **Arbitration**: If unresolved, Swiss arbitration
232 === 9.3 Legal Disputes ===
233 **Jurisdiction**: Swiss courts
234 **Applicable law**: Swiss law
235 **Venue**: Zürich
236 == 10. Succession Planning ==
237 === 10.1 Governing Team Succession ===
238 * Staggered terms (not all expire simultaneously)
239 * Nominating committee identifies candidates
240 * General Assembly elects
241 * Transitional handover period
242 === 10.2 Team Members Succession ===
243 * Key staff document their processes
244 * Cross-training where possible
245 * External recruitment if needed
246 * Contractor support during transitions
247 === 10.3 Organizational Continuity ===
248 * Documented procedures
249 * Automated systems reduce key person risk
250 * Regular backups and documentation
251 * Emergency response plan
252 == 11. Evolution & Adaptation ==
253 === 11.1 Regular Reviews ===
254 **Annually**:
255 * Structure assessment
256 * Process improvements
257 * Policy updates
258 * Strategic planning
259 **Periodically**:
260 * Comprehensive review
261 * Major reforms if needed
262 * Statutes amendments
263 === 11.2 Community Input ===
264 * Open RFC (Request for Comments) process
265 * Public discussion forums
266 * Surveys and feedback
267 * Trial periods for major changes
268 === 11.3 Emergency Changes ===
269 **Governing Team can act quickly** for:
270 * Security issues
271 * Legal compliance
272 * Critical bugs
273 * Abuse crises
274 **Must be ratified** by General Assembly at next meeting
275 == 12. Related Pages ==
276 * [[Governance>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Governance.WebHome]]
277 * [[Legal Framework>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Legal-Framework]]
278 * [[Open Source Model>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Open Source Model and Licensing]]
279 * [[Transparency Policy>>FactHarbor.Organisation.How-We-Work-Together.Transparency-Policy]]