I've worked in the "in person" ISO/ANSI system (ANSI committees *have*
to have in person meetings; or at least they did ... I don't know the
current rules) and I've worked in nearly all electronic fora.
Both have their place and their dynamics. I think it's very hard to
migrate from one to the other (there's not only infrastructure, but
there's cultural norms built up over time).
From time to time, people who think that the Fortran Committees took a
wrong turn (or two ;>) suggest that not only is the result "suboptimal"
but the process is broken (*Classical Fortran* by Michael Kupferschmid
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Michael%20Kupferschmid/102-0894102-0700952>
for an example of the former).
Perhaps the people who think there should be a radically different
language direction and want to have substantial infrastructure changes
should gather together and start with a moderately clean slate (no
doubt, they'd want to accept at least the vast majority of "f77"
programs, so as to leverage the installed base ;>). I'd strongly urge
them to ensure they plan to provide an Open Source (any suitable
license/definition of OS) implementation as a proof point (ala the IETF
process).
In any event, I would call upon the participants to work hard at
maximizing civility and professionalism ... it's possible to disagree
violently and yet still respect the folks who disagree with you ;> (the
FIDS of the olden days of WG5 and J3 as good cases in point ;>).
While I applaud Giles attempt to widen the participation, when we did
have a much larger committee getting *anything* done was harder (and it
wasn't of any higher quality). The model that IEEE uses involves a small
drafting group and large reviewing group. The Ada model, as I understood
it, was to have a huge requirements gathering group, a fairly reasonably
sized requirements establishing group, and a number of small competing
drafting groups.
Has anyone done a study (can anyone explain how one could measure the
quality?) of the resulting *quality* of the various processes used to
create Standards?
--
Keith H. Bierman [log in to unmask]
Sun Microsystems PAE | [log in to unmask]
12 Network Circle UMPK 12-325 | 650-352-4432 voice+fax
Menlo Park, California 94025 | sun internal 68207
<speaking for myself, not Sun*> Copyright 2004
|