Transparency is a core value of our Pocket DNA and a foundational part of all Open Source software systems. Transparency is fundamental because it helps to unlock perhaps the most important element of all: Trust.

Here are two ways we think about transparency:

• Secrecy leads to distrust and suspicion. Sharing leads to reciprocity, responsibility, and learning
• We can't predict what information and in whose hands it will create million-dollar opportunities and ideas because nobody is as smart as everybody

We believe that we can operationalise this perspective with two transparency principles:

1. We default to open.
2. We keep sensitive information safe.

Principle 1. We Default to Open

"Default to open" means making information, data, and processes publicly accessible and transparent by default, unless there is a compelling reason to keep things private. This promotes accountability and trust and reduces the threshold to contribution, promoting greater collaboration. Ways in which we promote this type of default to open mentality include:

• Findability/Searchability - Make our information transparent in the first place to set others up for success. All relevant information should be easy to access and available to all community members (within limits). The release of the Era Notion Page is a first step in this direction.
• Trust & Responsibility - Rather than limiting information flow, share material information even when not required to do so and promote the responsible use of that information within the community. It’s important that people who receive information use it as a starting point for further context building and don’t jump to conclusions.
• Candour Aim for empathetic communication, but not at the expense of being candid. This is best described as Care Personally but Challenge Directly. This is not just about being open - it is about driving performance and embedding high standards. Of course, being candid with ourselves is important too.
• Pull more than Push - Transparency requires a healthy signal-to-noise ratio. We will strive to empower people to find or “pull” the information they need, rather than being reliant on us to “push” information or to broadcast everything.

How will we do this

We will run a session on upcoming community calls to discuss Transparency and the tactical ways we can embed this in Pocket DAO.

To get this conversation started, below are ways planned or already live for how we are promoting transparency within Pocket:

POKT DAO ERA

For community members, this also means expectations around transparency: