# Guide: HackLab Task Tracker

The purpose of this resource is to document recommendations for how to best use the [HackLab task tracker on Trello](https://trello.com/b/6zOW7gzY/hackerspace).

:construction: This document is a work in progress...

**Contents**
[Lists](#lists)
[Suggested Patterns](#suggested-patterns)
[-- Focussed Conversation](#focussed-conversation)

## Lists

**Resources.** A more static list for linking cards with attachments, for easier access to important HackLab resources.

**Backlog.** The place for any and all ideas and to-dos. It's ok if a task is more fuzzy -- another member of the board may try to break it into actionable components or seek clarity.

**In Progress.** For tasks that someone is actively working on or committed to. (Cards in this list should have at least one responsible member attached.)

**Done.** For dropping cards that we're done with.

## Suggested Patterns

This section is to share ideas for ways of creating and engaging with issues.

### Focussed Conversation

When dealing with a particularly complex or divided discussion, it's sometimes helpful to steal some tactics from a faciliation framework called _Focussed Conversation_ (aka [ORID](http://www.betterevaluation.org/en/evaluation-options/orid)).

The ORID framework usually involves sharing and building through separate layers of conversation. These layers (in order) revolve around "facts", then "feelings", then "ideas", then finally "decisions". These traditionally happen in separate non-overlapping phases, so that later layers don't stifle or cloud conversations regarding earlier layers. To lay out one example more concretely, prematurely introduced ideas often lead to unexplored and unexamined feelings and facts, which don't get sufficient airtime and consideration once ideas are introduced.

In our case, the most lightweight approach is to identify and separate out different types of statements from the first three phases. (These statements are easiest to classify.) We can do this by initiating a Trello card something like this:

> I'll leave my thoughts according to the legend below. You can leave comments however you'd prefer.
>
> **Legend**
> :mag: Facts
> :heart: Feelings
> :bulb: Ideas
>
> Feel free to contribute any feedback or objections! I'm hoping to move forward by the due date on this card if no glaring concerns are raised and left unresolved :)
>
> ---
>
> This card attempts to use the **Focussed Conversation method** for discussion. For more information, see [this internal resource](https://hackmd.io/s/r1ye4_g5Z#focussed-conversation).

I'll leave my thoughts according to the legend below. You can leave comments however you'd prefer.

**Legend**
:mag: Facts
:heart: Feelings
:bulb: Ideas

Feel free to contribute any feedback or objections! I'm hoping to move forward by the due date on this card if no glaring concerns are raised and left unresolved :)

---

This card attempts to use the **Focussed Conversation method** for discussion. For more information, see [this internal resource](https://hackmd.io/s/r1ye4_g5Z#focussed-conversation).

You are then encouraged to **add your own statements within comments**. Using comments (as opposed to the card description) makes it obvious whose statements they are.

It's also a good idea to **add a due date** to the card, after which a decision will be made. The decision can be to take action, or retire the discussion. A week is often a good timeframe. This gives people both time to participate, and clarity to know when discussion will end.

Here is [an example of this approach in action on a Trello card](https://trello.com/c/pq4wyrm8/13-allow-people-to-add-themselves-to-this-trello-board).

The main benefit of this variation of the Focussed Conversation method is that framing "facts" and "feelings" separately helps clarify when a statement is either:
1. open to refutation (ie. a false fact), or
2. open to disagreement but not refutation (ie. a feeling).

This framing helps both speakers (who will communicate better), and readers (who will understand better). It helps avoid common pitfalls of other long-form, unstructured text conversations that happen online.