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5. The Four Mentor–Podling Archetypes
| Archetype | Description | Typical Stage | Mentor Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mentor-Driven | Mentors are highly visible and actively guide the community; issues are resolved quickly. | Early | Model ASF practices and begin transferring responsibility. |
| Mentor-Dependent | Mentors remain active, but the podling continues to rely on them for key decisions. | Mid | Step back and encourage the PPMC to lead. |
| Self-Managing | The podling governs itself with mentors providing advice and validation. | Late or Graduated | Confirm stability and readiness for graduation. |
| Silent Decline | Mentor visibility drops as unresolved issues increase. | Any or Retired | Re-engage existing mentors or assign replacements. |
A healthy trajectory moves from Mentor-Driven to Self-Managing to Graduated. Prolonged Mentor-Dependent behaviour or emerging Silent Decline patterns indicate a need for IPMC attention and possible intervention.
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Engagement patterns should be interpreted in the context of each podling’s stage of incubation.
| Stage | Typical Pattern | Red Flag Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Early (<6m) | High MEI with active mentor guidance | Low MEI indicating absent or overloaded mentors |
| Mid (6–24m) | Growing independence and clearer governance | Persistent Mentor-Dependent behaviour |
| Late (>24m) | Self-Managing with limited mentor input | Silent Decline |
| if mentors disengage too early | ||
| Graduated | Self-Managing and autonomous | Still Mentor-Driven, suggesting incomplete transition |
| Retired | Silent Decline before |
| retirement | — |
Healthy progression follows Mentor-Driven → Self-Managing → Graduated. A podling that remains Mentor-Dependent for an extended period, or drifts from Self-Managing to Silent Decline while still in incubation, may require IPMC review and support.
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This framework helps mentors and the IPMC interpret engagement patterns as early indicators of podling health and independence.
| Situation | Metric Signal | Interpretation | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podling late to report, low MEI | Under-mentored | Mentors are inactive or overextended | Review mentor workload and reassign if necessary |
| High MEI but recurring issues | Mentor-Dependent | Mentors remain active but the podling has not assumed responsibility | Encourage the PPMC to lead; mentors should review and advise, not fix |
| Flat MEI with few issues | Self-Managing | Podling operating independently with stable governance | Begin discussions on graduation readiness |
| Declining MEI and rising issues | Silent Decline | Mentor disengagement leading to loss of oversight | Reconnect with mentors or rotate new mentors into the project |
Monitoring these signals enables the IPMC to act early, providing support before small issues escalate into persistent stagnation.
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