2025-03-10 –, Wintergarten
Discover why we're busier than ever despite technological advancements and how Open Source projects can boost productivity and well-being. Learn to avoid "pseudo-productivity" and the "efficiency trap" by focusing on quality over quantity. Join us for practical insights and strategies to create a more fulfilling Open Source culture.
In 1930, English economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that by 2030, we would only work 15 hours a week thanks to technological advancements and increased wealth. Instead, we find ourselves working more than ever, with technology adding extra tasks to our workdays – like answering emails and monitoring chat channels. This talk explores why we are so busy and how we can improve our productivity and well-being at the same time, particularly in the Open Source world.
We will look at the concepts of "pseudo-productivity" and the "efficiency trap," which arise from the emphasis on visible activity and can lead to stress and burnout. Drawing on insights from experts like computer science professor Cal Newport, we will discuss how Open Source projects can benefit from focusing on quality over quantity. We propose strategies on how to concentrate on more fulfilling and important work – and not on the little tasks that chew up so much of our days.
Additionally, we highlight the importance of accepting that our available working time is limited and that we need to make conscious decisions about how we use it. By applying these principles, Open Source projects can become more productive and sustainable while enhancing contributor satisfaction and well-being.
This talk offers practical approaches and insights on how to tackle the challenges of the modern work environment to create a more fulfilling and effective Open Source culture.
Dr. Wolfgang Gehring is an Ambassador for Open and Inner Source and has been working on enabling and spreading the idea within Mercedes-Benz. A software engineer by trade, Wolfgang’s goal is to help enable Mercedes-Benz to fully embrace FOSS and become a true Open Source company. He has a passion for communities, leads Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation’s Open Source Program Office, is a member of the Mercedes-Benz FOSS Center of Competence, and a Director of the Eclipse Foundation.
In his free time, Wolfgang likes to engage in conversations about soccer and is an avid traveler and scuba diver. He calls Albert Einstein’s birth city of Ulm his home in Southern Germany.