The IEEE-SA Standards Process Dr. Bilel Jamoussi IEEE Standards Education Committee

What do good standards offer? A balanced blend of  Technical alternatives  Economic needs  Global requirements

IEEE-SA Individual and Corporate Standards Development Open, consensus process Individual standards development –Each individual has one vote Corporate standards development –One company/one vote Results frequently adopted by national, regional, and international standards bodies

Five principles guide standards development Ensuring integrity and wide acceptance for IEEE standards IEEE Standards Development IEEE standards follow the standardization principles as stated by the WTO

Due Process  Develop operating procedures  Publish and make procedures available  Follow procedures

Openness Everyone has access to the process Make information and actions publicly available for examination Include all materially interested and affected parties Avoid antitrust situations/appearance of collusion Opportunity to participate does not necessarily mean membership or a vote

Consensus Agreement among the majority –Not 100% agreement Defined in the IEEE Sponsor balloting rules as 75% of 75%

Consensus Obligation to the majority –Approve and make available expeditiously Obligation to the minority –Attempt to resolve comments

Balance Representation from all materially interested and affected parties –Goal for development  Encourage participation during standard’s draft development stages –Mandatory for balloting  Lack of dominance by any one interest group  Common categories for interest groups: Producer, user, and general interest

Right of Appeal The right to initiate a challenge of the process Bases of appeal can be –Technical (within Sponsor) –Procedural

Three Choices for Standardization Standards −Documents with mandatory requirements Recommended Practices –Documents with preferred procedures and positions Guides –Documents with suggested approaches to achieve good practice but with no clear-cut recommendations

Standards Development Process Flow

Project Authorization A project may be started by any individual or company Each project must be supported by a technical group in the IEEE –Referred to as a “Sponsor” –Official developer of standard Projects approved through document called Project Authorization Request (PAR) –Summarizes details of project

Develop Draft Standard Standard written in working group –Working group consists of developers interested in creating the standard Working group chooses way to create first draft document –Group writes initial draft –Draft developed from existing documents and specifications Draft document refined in working group through multiple iterations and review

Consensus process Consensus is determined through a ballot Invitation to ballot draft standard is issued to interested persons or organizations –Responding to ballot invitation signs you up to ballot the standard –Once formed, ballot group cannot change Ballot group receives document to ballot –Vote yes (approve), no (disapprove), abstain –Can offer comments on document as well  Recommended with no vote

Balloting Response and Results Requires at least 75% response from balloters Requires at least 75% approval from those who respond Working group attempts to resolve negative comments from balloters Revised draft and comments are then recirculated to ballot group –Comments on new or changed portions of recirculated draft must be addressed Recirculations continue until 75% approval is achieved without new negative votes

Approval and Publication Approval of standard is granted by IEEE-SA Standards Board Standard published after approval Standard is valid for 5 years after approval –After 5 years, must be revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn

Determination of Method Developers can choose the appropriate venue for development, depending on technology –Individual (one person, one vote) –Corporate (one company, one vote) Type of standards development indicated at time of project approval Can change during standards development –Recommended to use same type of planned balloting method for development method Once project enters ballot, method cannot change –Because ballot group must remain stable

Summary The IEEE Standards Association –Fosters an environment of mutual respect amongst all participants –Recognizes the value of partnership and collaboration IEEE standards –Strive to achieve a balanced blend of technical alternatives, economic/market needs, and political views –Adhere to five imperative principles of standards development