Strategy for updating the Process

There have been two recent discussions about choosing subjects for updates to the W3C Process Document.

1.      A discussion in the October Process Dcoument Task Force Telcon emphasized that first priority should be given to updates that (a) make the W3C more agile and (b) fix structural problems, such as the current process for participation by "member organization Members" (Issue 163).

2.      A discussion of the process and how it is being updated at the AC Open Mike session at TPAC 2015 led to agreement that the process should be updated to simplify where possible and to fix structural problems, but it should not be updated just to make small improvements. The discussion further agreed that having a relatively small group propose what the updates should be was fine as long as the AC was given sufficient notice of the proposed updates and a chance to review them prior to holding a ballot on a Process change. (In recent history, the AC has been given two chances to see and comment upon the proposed updates for a Process revision.)

There is, therefore, a need to prioritize the work of the Process Document Task Force to reflect these topics. That will be the subject of the 9 November Process Document Task Force Telcon.

Steve Zilles