Perceptions of the State of D&I and D&I Initiative in the ASF

TL;DR

This study investigates OSS contributors' perceptions of D&I initiatives within the ASF, revealing perceived shortcomings and areas for improvement to foster more inclusive open source communities.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into contributors' perceptions of D&I efforts in OSS, highlighting specific areas needing enhancement and offering guidance for future initiatives.

Findings

Contributors see D&I as lacking, especially in gender, seniority, and language.

Some perceive D&I efforts as unnecessary; others critique their implementation.

D&I initiatives are a good start but require significant improvements.

Abstract

Open Source Software (OSS) Foundations and projects are investing in creating Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) initiatives. However, little is known about contributors' perceptions about the usefulness and success of such initiatives. We aim to close this gap by investigating how contributors perceive the state of D&I in their community. In collaboration with the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), we surveyed 600+ OSS contributors and conducted 11 follow-up interviews. We used mixed methods to analyze our data-quantitative analysis of Likert-scale questions and qualitative analysis of open-ended survey question and the interviews to understand contributors' perceptions and critiques of the D&I initiative and how to improve it. Our results indicate that the ASF contributors felt that the state of D&I was still lacking, especially regarding gender, seniority, and English proficiency. Regarding the D&I initiative, some participants felt that the effort was unnecessary, while others agreed with the effort but critiqued its implementation. These findings show that D&I initiatives in OSS communities are a good start, but there is room for improvements. Our results can inspire the creation of new and the refinement of current initiatives.