Re: Planning to close EXPath Community Group due to inactivity unless we hear from you

Thank you, Ian.  Points well taken.

Michael

Ian Jacobs <ij@w3.org> writes:

> Hi Michael,
>
> [snip]
>
>
>> Having two distinct groups helps make the difference in their goals
>> clearer.
>> 
>> If the ongoing cost to W3C of a quiescent community group is high, then
>> the cost/benefit ratio may be unpropitious.  But the alternative costs
>> are potentially also high: the cost of later starting a new group from
>> scratch to continue the work of the old discontinued group, or the
>> (intangible, I guess) cost to W3C of people deciding that W3C is not
>> where certain work is going to be done.
>> 
>> Weren't community groups sold at the outset as a way for W3C to support
>> some kinds of technical work at minimal cost to the consortium?  If the
>> ongoing cost to W3C of quiet groups is high enough to merit Ian's
>> attention, I wonder what went wrong with the original idea.  (Or
>> possibly how I managed to misunderstand the original idea.)
>
> I think there is value in clear communication about what work is actually happening.
> Every six months or so we close inactive groups (say, 15 or 20). We think that helps
> reduce the noise.
>
> There is also a benefit to this periodic outreach. In a healthy number of cases, it prompts
> new activity, published updates, cleanup, and so forth. 
>
> The cost of quiet groups is not necessarily high, but the value of touch points is high.
>
> Ian


-- 
C. M. Sperberg-McQueen
Black Mesa Technologies LLC
http://blackmesatech.com

Received on Friday, 5 July 2024 21:46:40 UTC