Avoiding Coordination Neglect
Thanks for this proposal, Wallfacer. After a bit of experience with DAOs, I wanted to offer a few thoughts for consideration as a TrueFi community member. DAOs often face the challenge of coordination neglect. Since they are decentralized, teams can underestimate the challenge of moving disparate units together to achieve a mission.
To help with coordination, general strategic objectives can be established first in order to provide an evaluation framework. Once a framework is in place, evaluation on merits is possible. The most successful DAOs are presently moving toward establishing high level objectives and project-based budgeting, rather than more open-ended responsibilities. Project-based budgeting does two things. First, it improves transparency. Second, it helps to manage DAO spend. Each budget line item is tied to concrete outputs (measurable) and products tied to an objective (impactful). In short, this format connects the “How”, “What”, and “Why”.
Please forgive the elementary nature of my example below and the fact I may have failed to interpret the information correctly. I just wanted to offer some thoughts that could help strengthen the proposal.
By clarifying what Wallfacer will deliver, it would become evident why Wallfacer is the best contractor for the job. Wallfacer’s proposal delivers value well above and beyond its cost.
Hierarchy: Objective – Strategy – Tactic
In the task list provided, there appears to be a list of various objectives, strategies, and tactics intermingled with other responsibilities. The list doesn’t yet have a division or hierarchy to help organize and frame each piece of information. The flat nature of the list makes it difficult to parse how each line item relates to each other line item.
I took a shot at organizing a couple of the items. The table is missing some concrete details that would help to clarify what is being done, for example, the headcount on each line item, the deliverable(s) due, the duration, and the projected cost for each (if available).
By providing this information, it helps to immediately determine the relative value and costs of each initiative. It also establishes the defined scope (temporal and product) as well as the costs for the services. In short, Wallfacer is delivering tons of value to the DAO, and we want to ensure both sides are showcasing it as best we can.
Confusion Breeds Conflict; Clarity Avoids Confusion
Most conflict arises from confusion. Confusion often comes from mismet expectations. One way to avoid conflict is to concretize and clearly define arrangements with a funder. Usually it best to agree in advance of starting work. Defining deliverables eliminates the space for “he said/ she said/ they said.” Right now there is a rough scope of work and an “out of scope of work” but one would have a hard time “checking the box” for some of the in scope items proposed above.
Here is a modest attempt at an example.
Strategic Objective: Grow Adapt3r-like Customer Pipeline (Asset Vaults).
Strategy One: Develop Asset Vaults Product to Enable Customer Onramp
-
Tactic/Task 1: Define Specifications of Asset Vaults
Deliverable(s): Q2 2023; XYZ ,Q3 2023;
FTE Equivalent:
Projected Time/ Cost: -
Tactic/Task 2: Development of Asset Vaults,
Deliverable(s): Q2 2023;
FTE Equivalent:
Projected Time/ Cost: -
Tactic/Task 3: Security Evaulation of Asset Vaults,
Deliverable: Q3 2023;
FTE Equivalent:
Projected Time/ Cost:
Strategy Two: Redefine Customer Experience To Achieve PMF for Asset Vaults
-
Tactic/Task 1: Qualitative Interviews with Current and Future Customers
Deliverable(s): Q1 2023;
FTE Equivalent:
Projected Time/ Cost: -
Tactic/Task 2: Revamp TrueFi Application Based on Interviews
Deliverable(s): Q1 2023;
FTE Equivalent:
Projected Time/ Cost:
Ongoing Responsibilities for Asset Vaults:
• Technical and business support for teams developing on or integrating TrueFi (Customer Support)
• Wallfacer will be the point of contact for teams looking to integrate (Customer Onramp)
Here is a quick shot of what the new data could look like on the task list.
@nicole_maffeo Do you have any OKR or KPI best practices from FAANG you would want to add here?