How can a distributed den of foxes organize themselves optimally to achieve the greatest success?
Answering this question will be an ongoing journey, but this post intends to serve as a start. The following is an initial organizational structure for the ShapeShift DAO. Community members are invited and encouraged to experiment with, improve, and evolve this structure going forward.
Here are some of the main goals of this structure:

1. Offer context and clarity on how the ShapeShift DAO functions
2. Enable anyone to easily start contributing and earning FOX
3. Enable workstreams to operate with a high level of autonomy to achieve their mission and goals
4. Maximize governance participation and minimize fatigue
5. Enable workstreams to securely manage and utilize funds allocated to them from the DAO

Updated May 10, 2022 (view original)The ShapeShift DAO is powered by a combination of Snapshot and Gnosis Safe, connected by the reality.eth-powered SafeSnap module.
The Workstreams and Individual Contributors/Squads sections of the chart are powered by Colony on xDAI and controlled by the ShapeShift DAO.

• ShapeShift’s SnapShot enables FOX Token holders to vote on proposals by signing free messages rather than broadcasting expensive transactions.
• ShapeShift’s SafeSnap enables proposal creators to include 1 or more transactions with a proposal, which if passed, will be executed the ShapeShift DAO’s Gnosis Safe
• ShapeShift’s Gnosis Safe is the treasury for the ShapeShift DAO and the admin of ShapeShift’s Colony
• ShapeShift’s Colony is controlled by the DAO, and enables DAO-appointed workstream leaders to request funding from the DAO and allocate it to individual contributors, squads, or other workstream expenses

As of the writing of this post, the night before we announce decentralized ShapeShift to the world, only 1 workstream has been defined, and all workstreams are waiting for leaders to apply. Over the coming weeks, I hope to see the following:

• DAO adopts this structure as a starting point, but also starts to brainstorm how to improve it
• Workstream leaders apply and are elected by the DAO
• Community members who are interested in contributing express their interest here and participate in finding the best leader for each stream

Once workstream leaders are elected, they can define their own workstream, start onboarding contributors, and can request funding from the DAO.
I think it’s going to the coolest thing ever and I can’t wait to see it unfold. Hope you’ll join me!
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Here are the slides and recording from the Intro and AMA hosted in Discord on July 28, 2021
Slides: Organizational Structure.pdf - Google Drive
Recording: 2021-07-28 14-04-46.mkv - Google Drive