Developing a Long-Term Strategy for Sustainability - Rebecca Rumbul & Gracie Gregory
Channel: The Linux Foundation
Date: 2023-05-25

Developing a Long-Term Strategy for Sustainability - Rebecca Rumbul & Gracie Gregory, Rust Foundation

The management of large OSS Projects can often be a reactive and just-in-time process, in which immediate issues take priority over longer term planning and strategy. Devoting time to strategizing how to achieve long term resilience and sustainability can seem like a low priority, however it is essential in order to work more effectively. Developing a strategy can be difficult in a plural environment where there are a wide range of differing views and opinions on what the future should look like, and with multiple pressures on resources and legal obligations. Any strategy needs to be informed by the views of maintainers, as well as by supporters and by the macro policy/regulatory/financial environment. It also needs to be well articulated, and well communicated to ensure that diverse stakeholders remain engaged and invested in the ambitions and goals set out. This presentation will look at how the Rust Foundation approached the development of its own 3 year strategy, reflecting on activities such as the consultation process, the financial forecasting, the horizon-scanning, and the development of the final plan. We will discuss what was challenging and what was positive about the process, and how it will better guide our work and investment in the future.