QA WG Test Task Force Charter

Draft, January 17, 2003

Editor: Dimitris Dimitriadis

Mission Statement

The mission of the QA WG Test Task Force (TTF) is to ensure that guidelines in the QA Testing guidelines Document get followed by other Working Groups in the W3C.

Scope and Deliverables

The TTF scope is to:

• Ensure the use of practices required by the QAWG Guideline documents.
• Provide technical expertise to assist W3C Working Groups in providing Test Materials for their specifications

In addition, the TTF should aim at producing and help produce as well as further developing Test Frameworks, to ensure that test material produced in the W3C Working Groups can be used, where applicable, by others.

The TTF deliverables are:

• Provide information on existing Test Technologies and techniques used and developed by Working Groups in the W3C and other interested parties (information can be documents, tutorials, web sites and so forth)
• Provide on-demand expertise to Working Groups seeking to produce such materials
• Assure uniformity in Test Frameworks and Techniques produced, as explained in other QA WG documents (ensure that tools conforming to QA WG Test Guidelines documents are used and, where applicable, reused by as many WG as possible).
• Develop tools and tool kits of general usefulness to help WGs develop test materials.

It is desirable that the Test Task Force build tools (test materials), resources allowing.

Duration

Depending on whether the TTF is to be a separate body from the QA WG within the current QA activity, or if it is to coexist within the activity but as a separate group, either of two durations are relevant:

• The duration (including the possibility of rechartering) of the current QA WG
• A duration which reflects the need for a TTF group in the W3C, meaning that it be chartered with the general W3C needs in mind (for example, two-year charter periods, renewable if necessary)

The TTF is anticipated to be active for at least two years, regardless of form.

Success Criteria

Ensure that guidelines in the QA Testing guidelines Document get followed by other Working Groups in the W3C.

Milestones

[@ed: tbd]

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

[@ed: tbd]

Dependencies/Relationship with other W3C Activities

It is fair to assume that the interrelationships with the QA WG are to be very strong. However, relationships with other Working Groups can be envisioned, especially those more technical/architectural in orientation.

Coordination with External Groups

As proposed, the TTF should communicate directly with other W3C Working Groups, not through a regular Interest Group setup.

Communication Mechanisms

Email

The TTF should have an archived mailing list [@ed: not sure if it should be public, though, as some discussions that will take place will be about member-confidential material, such as not yet released specifications]

Web

The TTF should have a Web Page

Phone Meetings

If invited to participate in Working Group activities, a separate agenda should be set up. No regular telephone conferences are envisioned.

Face-to-Face meetings

As for the Phone meetings

Voting Mechanisms

If applicable, by consensus.

Participation

This is subject to discussion within the W3C as financing will be required (either to have W3C staff work on this, or by inviting external experts/resources)

How to join the WG

N/A