On Jun 16, 2008, at 1:50 AM, Doug Schepers wrote:
Hi, Maciej-
You may have misunderstood what I wrote. I did not propose that
issues be brought up and solved in a binding manner during a single
telcon (though some minor issues may be, in the interest of acting
in a suitably-paced manner). As I clearly stated, the issues should
be raised, discussed via email and supporting documents, giving
everyone a chance to give input... the decision would be done during
the telcon after the data has been collected, to draw the issue to
a close.
I honestly don't see how you could have jumped to your conclusion,
unless you didn't read my email.
I just assumed that telecons would work as they do in every W3C WG I
have seen that makes binding decisions in telecons:
1) I have never seen a W3C Working Group chair take an actual roll
call or ask for affirmative support when proposing a resolution in a
telecon, just "no objections?" and a 30 second pause before the
resolution is declared to pass.
2) I have rarely seen telecon decisions tabled because it was a new
issue without adequate prior discussion. I have often seen an issue
discussed for a total of 5-10 minutes (without significant prior email
discussion) before a resolution is proposed
3) I have often seen telecon decisions ignore prior email feedback
because many people hadn't bothered to read it, or since the person
who'd sent the email was not present.
If you are instead proposing a new kind of telecon-based binding
decision-making that would not have these problems then I'd be
interested in hearing more about it.
I think the bottom line is that different people have different
working styles. Some, like you, appreciate the heartbeat and sense of
inclusion of weekly phone meetings. Others, like me, feel
uncomfortable trying to make quick judgments on technical issues
without adequate time to think about them, and do not find it a good
use of time to listen to those who are happy to discuss without
studying the matter. That's particularly likely to be true, I think,
for those of us who have day jobs working on implementations or other
areas of standards, but such people are highly likely to have relevant
technical input as well.
If binding decisions should be made in telecons, the working group
would favor people with your kind of working style over those with my
working style. I would strongly prefer if we had a way of making
decisions that could be inclusive of both of these working styles.
Perhaps this can be achieved with a combination of teleconferences,
email discussion of proposals made in telecons, and a decision process
where both "phone people" and "email people" can participate in a way
they find comfortable. Perhaps a roll call voice vote plus web survey
would do it. Or maybe just the web survey would do, if telecons remind
people to vote.
Regards,
Maciej
