The Open Org Project
global open-source knowledge community
About the Client
About Our Work
The “Open Organization” or “Open Org” is a community-driven initiative focused on exploring and promoting the use of open principles in organizational settings. These principles include transparency, adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and community engagement. The project is supported by Red Hat and aims to reshape how organizations operate by fostering open cultures where these values are central to leadership and management practices.
The Open Organization engages in several activities to advance its mission. They produce a range of resources, including books, case studies, and guides that help organizations implement open practices. These resources are collaboratively written by community members who come from diverse backgrounds, such as consulting, education, non-profits, and open-source software development. The community is also active in creating content that addresses contemporary organizational challenges, offering practical advice on how to incorporate open principles into various aspects of business and management.
In terms of impact, The Open Organization has established a global conversation around open principles, particularly within sectors like technology and education. Their resources have been widely used and referenced by organizations looking to innovate and adapt to modern challenges by leveraging openness. The project also holds events and contributes to industry discussions, further expanding awareness and understanding of open principles.
Their impact is evident through their community’s continued growth and the practical application of their principles in organizations across different sectors. The initiative is recognized for providing valuable insights that help organizations become more transparent, agile, and collaborative, which are essential qualities in today’s dynamic work environments.
Their impact is evident through their community's continued growth and the practical application of their principles in organizations across different sectors.
The Challenge
The Open Organization was launched to address a critical need expressed by leaders across various industries: the “how-to” of implementing the principles of openness at an organizational level.
While many recognized the value of open-source collaboration, there was a gap in understanding how to translate these values into actionable strategies for leadership, project management, and organizational design.
The challenge was to distill the principles observed in open-source projects into defined characteristics and to build a global, online community that could evolve and expand these ideas across industries.
Jen KelchnerAmbassadorContributor
Architecting the Change
As an Ambassador and key contributor to The Open Organization, I played a pivotal role in shaping the direction and impact of this global community.
My responsibilities included thought leadership through articles and books, operational and governance work, community architecture, and multimedia design. I aided in the development of foundational concepts like the open organization maturity model, facilitated global discussions, and served as a face of the community (as an Ambassador) in various public forums.
My contributions extended beyond evangelizing open culture; I was instrumental in developing tools and resources that helped organizations track and implement open practices effectively.
My unique ability to recognize the potential of open behaviors at individual, leadership, and organizational levels allowed me to contribute deeply to The Open Organization.
By connecting the dots between open-source practices and organizational culture, I helped create frameworks that others might have overlooked. This foresight led to the development of resources that have had a lasting impact on how organizations approach openness, and laid the groundwork for the MESH methodology—a comprehensive organizational design that extends the principles of openness to the tenets required for decentralization.
The Transformation
Using our multidimensional approach to change
Our work within The Open Organization led to a significant transformation in how openness is understood and applied in organizational contexts. By synthesizing the principles of open-source projects into actionable frameworks, we enabled leaders across the globe to implement open culture in their organizations.
This transformation was not just theoretical; it was operationalized through the development of resources like the open organization maturity model, numerous publications, and a thriving online community that continues to drive the conversation on open leadership and culture.
The insights gained from this work also served as the foundation for my own methodology, the MESH organizational design, which further advances the principles of openness at every level of an organization.
Principles to Practice: Successfully translated open-source principles into organizational practices, providing leaders with actionable frameworks for open culture.
Community-Driven Innovation: Fostered a global community that not only embraced but actively contributed to the evolution of open organizational culture.
Thought Leadership: Established myself as a global thought leader in open culture, open organizations, open leadership with contributions to thought articles, multiple books, and numerous conference panels.
Maturity Model Development: Shaped the open organization maturity model, a critical tool for organizations to assess and guide their open culture journey.
Operational Impact: Played a key role in the community’s operations, governance, and multimedia presence, ensuring the project’s sustainability and growth.
Unrelenting aspiration and persistence to make things better
As an ambassador, Jen has left an indelible mark on our project and our community. She was instrumental in crafting several documents vital to both our community identity and our ongoing work today—including the Open Organization Definition and Maturity Model. Her work is speckled throughout our book series, and she penned the introduction to the second edition of our Leaders Manual. And she has always served as an impassioned voice of our community, speaking at events across the world and bringing our work to receptive audiences in accessible and inviting ways.
You cheered us on!
Your contribution is immense and your vision - solid on what makes a healthy community. The video channel and much more would not have happened without you.
The initiative is recognized for providing valuable insights that help organizations become more transparent, agile, and collaborative, which are essential qualities in today’s dynamic work environments.
The Reach of The Open Org Project
Community & Ambassador Engagement
The Open Organization established an ambassador program that has been mentioned in various contexts as a model for building engaged communities. This program has been highlighted for effectively leveraging volunteers and contributors to spread the principles of openness and transparency in organizational practices. By engaging ambassadors, the community has increased its visibility and reach, particularly through social media and peer-to-peer networks.
Social Media & External References
The work and ethos of The Open Organization have been discussed in various articles and social media platforms. These discussions often focus on how the community promotes transparency, collaboration, and decentralized decision-making. The program is cited as a successful example of how nonprofits and organizations can engage their communities to drive broader social change.
Mentions in Broader Contexts
The Open Organization's approach to fostering open culture within organizations has been referenced in multiple external platforms that discuss best practices for building community-driven initiatives.
These references often highlight the organization’s unique approach to engaging community members and its impact on promoting open, inclusive, and collaborative cultures across various industries.
The Strategic Value
By contributing to The Open Organization, we established a new global standard for open organizational culture, providing long-term value for any organization seeking to innovate and lead in the open-source space.
Created practical tools like the open organization maturity model, enabling organizations to track and implement open practices effectively, leading to tangible improvements in culture and performance.
The insights and frameworks developed during this project served as the foundation for the MESH methodology, providing organizations with a comprehensive approach to organizational design rooted in openness.
Developed numerous resources, from articles to multimedia content, that continue to educate and inspire leaders worldwide, ensuring a lasting impact on organizational culture and leadership.
Elimination of Workflow Blockages: Addressing and removing workflow blockages led to smoother operations, reducing delays and increasing overall productivity.
Data Visualization Expertise: The introduction of data visualization tools cultivated a culture of data-driven decision-making, enhancing the department's ability to act on insights quickly.
Improved Vendor Performance: With clearer communication and expectations, vendors could perform their tasks more effectively, reducing setup errors and improving in-store execution.
Reduction in Frustration Levels: Streamlined processes and improved communication reduced the frustration levels among vendors, contractors, and management teams, contributing to a more positive work environment.