Introducing myself to WebCrypto Working Group

Hi, WebCrypto Working Group members-

I am on the faculty at MIT's Sloan School of Management, and I am currently working (jointly with Craig Murphy, a professor of international relations at Wellesley College) on a historical study of how voluntary consensus standard setting processes and institutions emerged and have changed over the past century, up to the present.  In earlier periods, we focus primarily on the process used by IEC, ISO, national standards organizations, and engineering societies, but we would like to study some more recent  models of standards setting, as well.  The process followed by W3C is a good example of another model of such standard setting, especially as it is one of the initiators of the recent OpenStand announcement.

With the permission of Jeff Jaffe and your Working Group chair and W3C contacts, I will be observing this Working Group's process for the next year (or until the WG completes its work, if that happens sooner).  I will follow the electronic discussion, participate in weekly phone meetings (beginning Jan. 14, 2013), and attend face-to-face meetings when possible.  I may also request to interview some of you, either in person or by Skype, a request you may decline if you wish.  Before quoting or referring to any members in our published research, I will secure written permission from the individual.

I am happy to discuss the research with you, and to respond to any questions you may have.  Please contact me at jyates@mit.edu<mailto:jyates@mit.edu> to set up a time to talk.

I look forward to following your deliberations over the next year.

Best,

JoAnne

JoAnne Yates
Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
jyates@mit.edu

2012 -13 on sabbatical
c/o Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
75 Alta Road
Stanford, CA 94305