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Version 1.2 by Robert Schaub on 2025/12/22 14:15
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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) **Jurisdiction**: Switzerland **Governed By**: Swiss Civil Code (Art. 60-79)
5 **Key Characteristics**:
6 * Non-profit purpose
7 * Member-based governance
8 * Democratic decision-making
9 * Limited liability
10 * Tax-exempt status (if public benefit)
11 == 2. Governance Structure ==
12 === 2.1 General Assembly ===
13 **Composition**: All Verein members
14 **Powers**:
15 * Elect Governing Team
16 * Approve annual budget
17 * Amend statutes
18 * Decide on major strategic changes
19 * Dissolve organization
20 **Meetings**: Annually (+ extraordinary as needed)
21 === 2.2 Governing Team ===
22 **Size**: small group
23 **Composition**:
24 * Facilitator (chair)
25 * Coordinator
26 * Treasurer
27 * 0-4 additional team members
28 **Term**: 2 years (renewable)
29 **Powers**:
30 * Strategic direction
31 * Budget approval
32 * Policy decisions
33 * Hiring/firing key staff
34 * Represent organization externally
35 **Meetings**: Quarterly (minimum)
36 === 2.3 Team Member Roles ===
37 **Philosophy**: Minimal team, automation-first. Team members improve the SYSTEM, not the DATA.
38 **Core Principle**: AKEL makes content decisions. Humans monitor system performance and improve algorithms.
39 **Essential Roles**:
40 **Technical Coordinator** (1 FTE):
41 * **Domain**: AKEL performance and infrastructure
42 * **Monitors**: Processing speed, error rates, resource utilization, algorithm performance metrics
43 * **Improves**: Algorithms, infrastructure optimization, processing efficiency
44 * **Does NOT**: Review individual claim verdicts, override AKEL decisions
45 * **Authority**: Approve technical changes within domain boundaries
46 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous within domain, consent for cross-domain changes
47 **Community Coordinator** (1 FTE):
48 * **Domain**: Community health and feedback loop optimization
49 * **Monitors**: User feedback patterns, contribution quality trends, community engagement
50 * **Improves**: Onboarding processes, documentation, feedback mechanisms, community guidelines
51 * **Does NOT**: Moderate individual disputes (AKEL handles), make content decisions
52 * **Authority**: Approve community process changes
53 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous within domain
54 **Moderators** (part-time):
55 * **Domain**: Handle AKEL-flagged escalations and system gaming
56 * **Monitors**: Items AKEL marks for human review (abuse, manipulation attempts)
57 * **Improves**: Detection algorithms based on observed patterns
58 * **Does NOT**: Routine content review, override AKEL verdicts
59 * **Authority**: Handle flagged items, propose detection improvements
60 * **Decision Method**: Autonomous for flagged items, propose improvements to Technical Coordinator
61 **Optional Contractors** (as needed):
62 * Developers: Specific feature development
63 * Data Scientists: Algorithm research and optimization
64 * Legal Counsel: Compliance and legal review
65 * Accountant: Annual audits
66 **Total Core Staff**: full-timeE + part-time moderators
67 **Key Distinction**:
68 * ✅ Team members monitor AGGREGATE metrics and improve SYSTEMS
69 * ❌ Team members do NOT review individual claims or override AKEL
70 * ✅ When metrics show problems, fix the ALGORITHM
71 * ❌ Do NOT manually correct individual outputs
72 === 2.3.5 Team Roles Diagram ===
73 {{include reference="FactHarbor.Specification.Diagrams.Human User Roles.WebHome"/}}
74 == 3. Decision-Making ==
75 === 3.1 Routine Operations ===
76 **Handled by**: Technical Coordinator + Community Coordinator
77 **Scope**:
78 * Day-to-day operations
79 * Content moderation (via moderators)
80 * Technical maintenance
81 * Minor policy clarifications
82 **Transparency**: All decisions documented
83 === 3.2 Strategic Decisions ===
84 **Handled by**: Governing Team
85 **Scope**:
86 * Budget allocation
87 * Major feature additions
88 * Policy changes
89 * Partnerships
90 * Hiring
91 **Process**: Majority vote (quorum: 50%+1)
92 === 3.3 Major Changes ===
93 **Handled by**: General Assembly
94 **Scope**:
95 * Statute amendments
96 * Dissolution
97 * Merger/acquisition
98 * Major strategic pivots
99 **Process**: 2/3 majority vote
100 == 4. User Community Roles ==
101 {{include reference="FactHarbor.Organisation.Diagrams.Governance Structure.WebHome"/}}
102 === 4.1 Readers ===
103 **Rights**:
104 * Browse content
105 * Flag issues
106 * Submit claims
107 **Responsibilities**:
108 * Respect community standards
109 * Provide constructive feedback
110 === 4.2 Contributors ===
111 **Reputation system** replaces role hierarchy. Earn through quality contributions.
112 **Requirements**:
113 * Register account
114 * Accept terms of service
115 * Build reputation through contributions
116 **Rights**:
117 * Edit claims, evidence, scenarios
118 * Participate in discussions
119 * Earn reputation points
120 **Responsibilities**:
121 * Maintain neutrality
122 * Cite sources
123 * Accept feedback graciously
124 === 4.3 Moderators ===
125 **Selection**:
126 * Appointed by Governing Team
127 * Must have high reputation
128 * Must have clean track record
129 **Rights**:
130 * Review flagged content
131 * Hide harmful content
132 * Issue warnings/bans
133 * Resolve disputes
134 **Responsibilities**:
135 * Impartiality
136 * Transparency
137 * Documented decisions
138 * Timely response
139 **Oversight**:
140 * Governing Team reviews moderator actions
141 * Can overturn decisions
142 * Annual performance review
143 == 5. Membership ==
144 === 5.1 Verein Membership ===
145 **Who can join**:
146 * Anyone supporting FactHarbor's mission
147 * Age 18+
148 * Accept statutes
149 **Membership fee**: Symbolic (e.g., CHF 20/year)
150 **Rights**:
151 * Vote in General Assembly
152 * Stand for Governing Team election
153 * Access to member-only information
154 * Participate in strategic discussions
155 **Termination**:
156 * Voluntary resignation
157 * Non-payment of dues (after warning)
158 * Serious violation of principles
159 * Decision by General Assembly
160 === 5.2 Contributor Status ===
161 **Separate from membership**: Can be contributor without being member
162 **Based on**: Activity and reputation
163 **No fees**: Open to all
164 == 6. Funding Model ==
165 === 6.1 Revenue Sources ===
166 **Primary**:
167 * Grants from foundations
168 * Donations from individuals
169 * Institutional partnerships
170 **Secondary**:
171 * API access fees (commercial users)
172 * Data licensing (with open data commitment)
173 * Training/consulting services
174 **Prohibited**:
175 * Advertising
176 * Selling user data
177 * Pay-for-rating
178 * Conflicts of interest
179 === 6.2 Budget Transparency ===
180 **Publicly disclosed**:
181 * Annual financial statements
182 * Major funding sources (>10% of budget)
183 * Team Members compensation ranges
184 * Major expenses
185 **Published**: On website, annually
186 == 7. Conflict of Interest Policy ==
187 === 7.1 Governing Team Members & Team Members ===
188 **Must disclose**:
189 * Financial interests
190 * Employment relationships
191 * Family connections
192 * Other potential conflicts
193 **Must recuse** from decisions where conflicted
194 === 7.2 Contributors ===
195 **Prohibited**:
196 * Direct financial stake in claim outcomes
197 * Paid to promote/attack specific claims
198 **Required**:
199 * Disclosure of other potential conflicts
200 * In evaluation history, not in account
201 == 8. Accountability Mechanisms ==
202 === 8.1 Internal ===
203 * Governing Team oversight of staff
204 * Regular audits (financial, security)
205 * Performance metrics published
206 * Community feedback channels
207 * Moderator appeal process
208 === 8.2 External ===
209 * Annual report to members
210 * Public financial statements
211 * Independent audits
212 * Media scrutiny
213 * Academic research welcome
214 === 8.3 Transparency Commitments ===
215 * Open source code
216 * Public data exports
217 * Documented decisions
218 * Algorithm transparency
219 * Quality metrics dashboard
220 == 9. Dispute Resolution ==
221 === 9.1 User Disputes ===
222 **Level 1**: Moderator decision **Level 2**: Appeal to different moderator **Level 3**: Governing Team review (final)
223 **Timeline**: Reasonable timeframe
224 === 9.2 Team Members/Governing Team Disputes ===
225 **Internal**: Direct discussion **Mediation**: If needed, external mediator **Arbitration**: If unresolved, Swiss arbitration
226 === 9.3 Legal Disputes ===
227 **Jurisdiction**: Swiss courts **Applicable law**: Swiss law **Venue**: Zürich
228 == 10. Succession Planning ==
229 === 10.1 Governing Team Succession ===
230 * Staggered terms (not all expire simultaneously)
231 * Nominating committee identifies candidates
232 * General Assembly elects
233 * Transitional handover period
234 === 10.2 Team Members Succession ===
235 * Key staff document their processes
236 * Cross-training where possible
237 * External recruitment if needed
238 * Contractor support during transitions
239 === 10.3 Organizational Continuity ===
240 * Documented procedures
241 * Automated systems reduce key person risk
242 * Regular backups and documentation
243 * Emergency response plan
244 == 11. Evolution & Adaptation ==
245 === 11.1 Regular Reviews ===
246 **Annually**:
247 * Structure assessment
248 * Process improvements
249 * Policy updates
250 * Strategic planning
251 **Periodically**:
252 * Comprehensive review
253 * Major reforms if needed
254 * Statutes amendments
255 === 11.2 Community Input ===
256 * Open RFC (Request for Comments) process
257 * Public discussion forums
258 * Surveys and feedback
259 * Trial periods for major changes
260 === 11.3 Emergency Changes ===
261 **Governing Team can act quickly** for:
262 * Security issues
263 * Legal compliance
264 * Critical bugs
265 * Abuse crises
266 **Must be ratified** by General Assembly at next meeting
267 == 12. Related Pages ==
268 * [[Governance>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Governance.WebHome]]
269 * [[Legal Framework>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Legal-Framework]]
270 * [[Open Source Model>>FactHarbor.Organisation.Open Source Model and Licensing]]
271 * [[Transparency Policy>>FactHarbor.Organisation.How-We-Work-Together.Transparency-Policy]]