Improving the Technical report Process Random ideas from Tim Budd

Purpose of Technical Reports Rapid dissemination of information (can be produced in matter of days) Referenceable citation. Something that can be cited in other papers. Author control of content. No messy waiting for approval of conference committees. Quasi-legimate publication

Production in the Good Old Days In the past departments kept files of paper copies of TR's. Distributed yearly (or more frequent) lists of technical reports to other departments or friends. Reproduced copies of papers on demand as requested.

How Things Change Technical Report Lists are no longer advertised as such (not even on web) Physical copies are not maintained (or even reproduced??) instead people are pointed to URL for electronic copies.

How a TR is produced Author gets bright idea, thinks of paper. Author gets number from Office (must give title and co-authors). Decides Category(*) Author writes paper. Author gives paper copy to office. Author submits electronic copy to departmental library Tis done. No ads, no further actions

Side note on Categories Twenty years ago the range of numbers were divided into categories based on topics. Reflected the department at that time. Things change. The categories haven't.

What is wrong with the system? Category problem. It is disconnected. No direct relationship between getting number, submitting physical paper, submitting electronic paper. No master list of TR's is publicly viewable by anybody except Nancy.

What can go wrong? Author can get number, fail to produce physical paper. Author can write paper, but fail to give copy to office Author can write paper, but fail to submit copy to online library.

How can it be improved? Better tracking system (connecting obtaining number to other stages). Should be trivial to answer questions such as when was number assigned? Is there a physical copy of paper Is there an electronic copy, and where Who to bug if not done yet?

Better Lists Should TR numbers be listed independently of on-line library (which has a more general purpose). Should be able to search TR lists, find out if papers are available, or where. Actual on-line paper may still be stored in on-line repository (that system works ok).