Re: [mpowr] WG Formation

Dave,

> As I said, if there is rough consensus that we do not have a problem
> with BOFs (and, yes, working groups) being authorized without sufficient
> preparatory work, then my suggestion should not carry the day.

I don't think the problem with underperforming WGs can be attributed
to something as simple as inadequate preparatory work. Later, you say:

> Importance to the net is, of course... important. However a failure to
> develop a clear working path is a show-stopper. The IETF has
> demonstrated a pretty clear pattern of success only when folks who will
> work on a problem have a clear, shared sense of the problem and the
> approach towards solving it.

I think this is one of the better predictors for success. When the
folks in the WG (and the WG Chair/AD/IESG) are all on the same page in
terms you describe above.

But it is not all that uncommon for an effort (whether BOF or even WG)
for there to be much more diversity in where folks heads are at. The
challenge then is finding a way to steer towards a shared
vision/direction. And in some sense, that is part of the what the WG
process is all about. I.e, finding (or developing) consensus among the
set of participants.

> Does that mean keep the status quo for dealing with BOFs or did you have
> a suggestion for something that will make them more useful?

My own view is that the BOF->WG process does have problems. Namely, as
I recall the original message of the thread mentioning , we have cases
where it just seems to take longer than it should from start to
finish. I don't have any obvious answers.

What I think might be useful though it see if we can understand the
problem better than "it's not working". I.e., it might make sense to
look at 5-10 BOF->WG efforts that happened in the last year or so, and
try to understand how well the system worked (or didn't work) in each
of those cases. There may be some general observations/lessons there
that can be used to improve future efforts.

Thomas

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