Re: Want to be on the IESG?

[John C Klensin <[e-mail]>]

--On Tuesday, October 12, 2021 00:51 +0200 Carsten Bormann
<[e-mail]> wrote:

> On 12. Oct 2021, at 00:26, John C Klensin <[e-mail]>
> wrote:
>> 
>>> If we keep
>>> asking people who don't have a problem with the way things
>>> are now to change the way things are now, that seems
>>> counterintuitive.
>> 
>> Indeed.
> 
> One of the reasons for "not having a problem" with the way
> things are now may be that this way is near optimum already
> for achieving the objectives of the organization.  The very
> same people may be in the best position to know how and why.

Carsten,

Yes, especially if those people are also defining, or even just
interpreting, the objectives of the organization.  

> Just saying; obtaining a nice slate of candidates is not an
> end in itself, it's a means to the end of achieving the
> objectives of the organisation.

Right.  But if the Nomcom ends up with a fairly homogeneous set
of candidates because, for example, people like you or me don't
have the time and resources, it is probably still fine for those
who are selected to "steer" and manage to the objectives of the
organization.  But if they define or redefine those objectives
rather than facilitating community discussion and agreement
about them and then implementing whatever conclusions the
community reaches, then your comment may still be true, perhaps
even tautologically so, but still not particularly helpful.

> (I'd love to have IESG positions where I could dream of
> having the time to fulfil them meaningfully, but I also think
> I know why that is a dream.)

best,
  john