The Procedures the AB is Using in Revising the W3C Process Document

All,

 

The Goal (of the W3C Process Document Revision)

Make the W3C Process as simple and straightforward as possible (consistent
with IPR and legal considerations, specification quality, fairness, and
transparency) and make it equally friendly to specification development
using Agile methodologies as well as Waterfall methodologies.

 

The Mechanism

The AB is responsible for evolving the W3C Process [0]. It intends to do
this work primarily in public view, in the interest of being transparent and
to solicit issues and comments, but the AB retains the responsibility for
prioritizing the issues it considers and guiding the evolution of the W3C
Process Document.

[0] http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/processdoc.html#GAProcess

 

Because Chapter 7 of the existing Process Document describes the "set of
steps and requirements followed by W3C Working Groups to standardize Web
technology," the AB  is focusing its efforts on completing a re-write of
that chapter first. And will follow with updates to the rest of the document
when Chapter 7 is in Last Call. In addition, the re-write of Chapter 7 is
fairly far along, building on work that was initiated over a year and one
half ago. That work included multiple presentations both at AC and TPAC
meetings and a survey of AC Participants and Working Group Chairs.

 

Our goal is to have a draft that we can send to Last Call by mid-September.
It is, therefore, imperative that you review the changes as soon as possible
and provides comments, preferably before 9 August so that the AB has time to
consider them and respond accordingly. 

 

As noted above, the AB will send results of its work for Last Call comments
to the AC and, finally, for AC Review and Director Approval, per the Process
Document [1]. All AC Representatives and Working Group Chairs are invited to
participate in the CG discussion.

[1] http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/processdoc.html#GAProcess

 

The AB will publish [2] Editors Drafts and Working Drafts of revisions to
the process document.

[2] https://dvcs.w3.org/hg/AB/raw-file/default/tr.html

 

FAQs

How can AC Representatives and Working Group Chairs participate?

The can best participate by following what is happening in the CG, both on
the CG's e-mail list (public-w3process@w3.org) and on its Issue Tracker[3].
This can be done most easily by joining the CG, but it can also be done by
monitoring mail archive and tracker without having to join the CG.

[3] http://www.w3.org/community/w3process/track/

 

Are CG members empowered to raise issues?

Yes, they can raise issues on the CG Issue Tracker[3], but the Advisory
Board will prioritize its handling the issues raised. The W3C Process
Document Editor will  maintain a wiki page in the CG that lists open issues
and their status within the AB (accepted, later, ...)

 

Can CG members edit the Process Document drafts?

No, only the Process Document Editor is empowered to edit the editor's
drafts and only the Advisory Board is empowered to publish new Working
Drafts. Suggested edits can be sent to the CG Tracker and will be handled
per the previous question.

 

Can the CG comment on and decide issues for itself?

Yes, such decisions are, per the scope of the CG, suggestions to the AB for
how the Process Document should evolve. It is a bit awkward for the AB and
the CG to share an Issue Tracker because they are independent Groups, but
because the topic is of interest to both groups, sharing the Issue list
seems to be likely to be more productive than having two separate lists.
Therefore, comments on what the AB is doing (or not doing) with the Process
Document are certainly welcome and a main reason for sharing the discussion
space between the AB and the CG.

 

Is the AB taking over the CG?

No, The CG has its role of "examining the way W3C works and propose
improvements to the formal processes." As noted above, it can continue to do
this independently of what is happening in the AB. Hopefully there will be
more cooperation between the two communities than independence, but the two
Groups are structurally independent.

 

What is the schedule?

The goal of the Advisory Board is to have a revised version of Chapter 7 of
the W3C Process Document by the September time frame. That will be the
current focus. Other issues may or may not get addressed during this focus
period.

 

Steve Zilles

Chair, W3C Advisory Board