Totalism Co-op:
    What we do
< PRE-DRAFT+ >

Project index → 🔗coop-index.

Revisions:
    2017-03-22
    2017-06-13
    2020-05-03 moveover
    2020-06-03 touch
Last updated: 2020-07-20







Brief introduction

The Totalism Co-op is a general labour association, operating since 2016. We specialize in information technology, organizational processes, applied research, and consulting.

Cooperations are established on top of common-goals alignment. Thus, they can be better for both parties - affordable, rapid, exciting, cheerful. This in turn changes the labour's accessibility, and inclusivity.

The broader Co-op's manifesto can be found here:
    → 🔗coop-manifesto.






Information Technologies


    ( BRIEF )
### possibly remove brief all together, use TOC for this

General software and Information Technology research, development and deployment.

    * full-solution specification

    * open-source software deployment
### could include list

    * development + support:
        also see → 🔗workflow, 🔗dev-index
 
    * openhardware research and "free industry" production:
        also see → 🔗openhardware

    * affordable hardware:
        → 🔗laptop

    * develop for bounties
 
    * research, systematic and overviews

    * teaching and workshops:
        → 🔗teaching

    * GNU+Linux system administration, dev-ops and hosting infrastructure
        ->>> #servercoop



Other technology:

    * events support (audio, video, network, workflow)

    * [...]



    * Quick transform dive [onsite, 2w/100h]

Every contemporary organisation, or individual, can benefit from improving their organisational processes, connected to the way they handle data. Tproduction, collaborationauthoring, collaborating, data, search & information retrieval, conceptual models, representation, machine learning, etc.

In 2 weeks... :
    * We figure out the main organisational and technical problems, and fully document them
    * Quick Fix:
        We rapidly document, specify, develop and deploy a solution to a painful problem
    * We re-align and re-sketch the internal research & development into an agreed, innovative direction
    * We concord a longer term smart data strategy


___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  

Example outcomes

#1 (Belgian software/media company):
    * fixed a broken Solr search engine instance
    * rethought their database model (conceptual clearing for future proofing, performance improvements)
    * made plans for graph database and "extended use of data"
    * made foundation for reinforced learning on example that influence search weights
    * made foundation for statistical test infrastructure
    * written up single page executive report for future tech (can be used when looking for VC)

#2 (UK open hardware project):
    * base structure and vision-setting for this "zero stage" (🔗non-shitty) startup
    * for results, see ^XXX🔗voxelcraft ###RECOVER !!!



    * Consult / outsource research [offsite, 4w/50h]
:
    * Initial brainstorming
    * Compile white papers / green papers / executive reports
    * Hold regular consulatory briefing
    * Prototype coding / development
    * [...]



    * Overview: Groupware (collaboration software & processes) [50h + 100h/Y]

Work effort:
    * 15h talk + preparation + investigate
    * 15h setup
    * 15h overview + fixes

Maintenance:
    * ~10h/month
(Not unlike #lovely.tools project.)



    * Hosting + system administration for small collaborative groups [20h + 100h/Y]

Use GNU+Linux.
Especially as the only administrator.

Includes:
    * initial setup
    * regular maintenance
    * support + educating
    * updates
    * select hardware and responsible/reliable shops/isp services

Work effort:
    * 5h talk + preparation
    * 16h setup
    * 8h initial education
    * 8h support requests

Maintenance:
    * ~10h/month



    * Software deployment and integration

:
    * own software
        → 🔗coop-assets ###
        → 🔗dev-index ###

    * other FLOSS software (especially with existing know-how or priority to learn)



        * Replacing proprietary software

With FLOSS alternatives.

Also:
    * support
    * teaching and coaching
    * custom directioned development
    * [...]




    * Development projects

        * directioned existing product improvement

Typically:
    * software development on top of products we already use
    * ... especially FLOSS


        * custom development ("services", "R&D", etc)

In:
    software, design, ...

Types:
    * micro-projects, <10h
    * mini-projects, <50h 
    * larger projects, ~500h:
        always broken down in 100h planned deliverables
    * [...]


        * participating in a creative project ("R&D")

:
    * with other groups:
        develop specifications
        take care to transfer responsibility to wider community later

    * art projects:
        usually as a part of a group, that is coordinated under a grant
        usually also includes (re)deployments, presentations, etc

    * [...]







Teaching and educating

We teach on a wide-variety of topics.
For topics and more details, see 🔗teaching.



    * Workshops (for groups, public)

Typically high-intensity, customized units, including 2-10 people.
 
#Topics:
    (could be auto-generated from THOUGHTSPACE)!
    #TODO



    * Mentoring young people (in schools, etc)

We connect with existing institutions, and help coordinate their existing audiences.

Examples:
    * beginner programing course (python, Scratch, or equivialent)
    * Simple hardware projects (eg arduino, raspberry)
    * Navigating the internet effectively
 
Includes:
    * available on site regulary (once a week, 2h, all year)



    * Individual mentorship

We mentor and individually consult on a wide-variety of technical and organisational topics.
Either in-person, or online.

For topics and more details, see 🔗teaching.






Re-Sales & Supply chain ops

Also see → 🔗lim0.

    * pique goods specification

    * run trials on alternatives

    * consulting on & setting up ethical and effective supply chains

    * direct re-sales of specific base goods
see 🔗ordering / 🔗lim0 / 🔗resources












*** NEW WORK (2020)


    * process steward & documentation editor-for-hire

Collaborative projects struggle to capture, organize and upkeep their document systems and collections.
Workflow are incomplete, inconsistent, and not upkept.

Editor-for-hire position ensures a regular overview with an set of internal editors-in-training:
    * giving them guidance that they can adopt and pass-on to the team
    * pushing for adoption of standard processes:
        * ... from the basic onboarding, archiving, meeting agenda setting, [...])
        * ... to more advanced & custom
    * resolves problems with document duplicates, mergers, etc
    * upkeeps styles and document hierarchies
    * keeps work processes clean
    * [...]

References from a number of associations, companies & collectives available.



    * art-on-demand

Cross-media, speculative, and wide range of fine arts.


    * art project support

Technical and conceptual support 

* Quommoning (with Željko Blaće), 2019
* canal boat schematic, with ooooo.be
* CCQO ?


    * high-tech camping

workshops & outings



    * own software products:
        * online deployment
        * sales & support
        * teaching, workshops

→ 🔗dev-index



    * cybernetic farming set-ups



    * partnering on grants



    * semantic web positioning & compliance

https://lod-cloud.net



    * consulting & data consulting



    * applied data science




<------------------------------------- (new) NEW WORK








*** PAD


TOMERGE -- "For more, also see..."
:
    * 🔗coop \ "Coop finds and coordinates"
    * dcht00🔗bizcase, dcht00🔗bizmodel
    * other segments from 🔗non-shitty
    * ^CHT🔗portfolio!
    * tons of stuff written under #meaningful, #databyro, #coop (david)
    * bits on 🔗season4, ^CHT🔗portfolio, ...
    * [...]




ALIKE / USE AS REFERENCE

from 🔗coop-alike:
    * http://bits.coop/ (via +substack) !
    * [...]

http://www.design-shift.com/ "what we do":
    * "product definition"
    * "Quality Assurance, Reliability, Compliance and Certification"
    * [...]

http://teilwerk.com/2016/12/10/what-is-teilwerk/:
    * [...]





LABOUR BY TYPE

!!!!!! MERGE


    By Location

    * in-house / on-site
Work at the institution.

    * remote 1 : collaborative work (individual contact)
Have an individual to communicate.

    * remote group : project work (several developers)
This is how companies usually lead work.
Also "out-sourcing".

Preferred way - always work doubled or tripled down:
    * can be a learning experience (especially for part of group set)
    * increased reliability, quality (because reviews)
    * [...]



    Special modes/attributes
:
    * anonymous work:
        * only from employer: does not employ you directly, might not know who you are!
        * from all: specific payment paths/options!

    * work-as-donation

    * [...]



    Domain knowledge expertise

primary:
    * information technology:
        * software design
        * hardware
        * groupware, collaborative software
        * FLOSS / open innovation
        * data-driven
        * semantic web
        * security
        * documentation
        * [...]
    * automation
    * politics
    * philosophy, theory, humanities, scientific research
    * conferences and events
    * outdoor, camping
    * journalism, investigative journalism
    * publishing, media, hypermedia
    * cooperatives, new productive models, peer to peer
    * systems thinking
    * territories:
        * Slovenia
        * Balkans
        * Canary Islands
        * EU
    * architecture
    * music, studio, composition
    * dietetics / nutriology, nootropics
    * film
    * project management
    * [...]



!!!!!! find & merge last pre-crash version

( this is not it ! )



### : pull labour, other fin means goes out

or, rethink docu ...

(+) would make sense as a biz plan
(-) not as an offer/presentation docu



make it a one-doc

transclude, or summarize



advertising in public space

esp for 1 on 1 mentoring





OUT: "PULL" LABOUR

### this needs to go to an internal docu
### however, grants and partnering in grants must be here, rewritten


    * Applying to grants

For:
    * systematics
    * our open code work
    * model work!
    * improvements of existing projects
    * [...]




    * Applying to contests / bounties / freelance work

Like:
    * contests
    * bug bounties
    * [...]

___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  

Points:
    + can do it when there's no other work
    + quick turnaround?
    - jury receives work from everyone, then decides winner:
        maybe get zero compensation
        they might steal parts of work, and incorporate it into end solution



OUT: OTHER FINANCIAL MEANS

### to AUX
### opening to investment is a [→→]


    * Open to receive donations

Must be able to receive donations in some form.

See 🔗donate !



    * Open to receive investment ?

###

Who knows?:
    a) subversive
    b) "startbursts" aka "spinoffs"
    c) indirect profitability (better environment, support from locals)

For:
    * existing projects
    * new undertakings
    * [...]




Things we do not do

"data-driven advertising and market research"



<------------------------------------------- ((new))