Two-page TD Decision Summary

Summary of Recommendation from T3F in re "revised Technical Steering Committee structure

Revised May 23, 2007 to reflect changes during Board adoption

The T3F proposes that the Board accept four inter-related recommendations relative to the HL7 Technical Steering Committee. The four items are listed below, expanded modestly in this summary report, and available in detail in the T3F's report "HL7 Technical Steering Committee", provided in "pdf" format.

The four subjects for approval (with section references to the complete document) are:

• Composition and Method of Formation of four Steering Divisions (4.1.3)
• Composition and Method of Selection of TSC Members (4.2)
• Principles of Operation of Technical Steering Committee (4.2, 4.3)
• Plan to Elect TSC between now and September WGM (7.)

Composition and Method of Formation of four Steering Divisions

• Four sub-groups of Committees & SIGs to be called Steering Divisions, each of which is a functional committee made up of the Co-Chairs of the member Committees/SIGs, with one vote per constituent body
• Three of the four are similar, but not identical to those that elected T3F members
• Fourth Steering Division comprised of set of Board-appointed committees that provide support to the other Committees and SIGs (such as Tooling, Publishing, Education); these will become TSC-appointed Committees
• Steering Divisions elect their own co-chairs and their Representative and Alternate Representative to the TSC on a one-vote per committee basis.

Composition and Method of Selection of TSC Members

• Four Representatives (with a Voting Alternate, who serves in the event the primary is unavailable), one from each Steering Division
• Two Representatives elected by the Affiliates (including US)
• Chief Technical Officer, as employed by the HL7 Board
• Board Liaison, appointed by Board, if TSC Chair is not a voting Board member
• ARB Representative, designated by Technical Steering Committee
• "Ad Hoc" Member, appointed by TSC as needed for balance and/or expertise

All of the above are Voting Members, and, with two exceptions, serve two-year renewable terms, to align with calendar year. Exceptions:

• Chief Technical Officer serves for the duration of his/her tenure
• "Ad Hoc" Member serves a variable term, up to 2-years

Principles of Operation of Technical Steering Committee

• Technical Steering Committee elects its own Chair from among its Voting members
• Technical Steering Committee decisions are made by vote, with Chair voting only to break ties.
• On all matters, Technical Steering Committee will seek consensus (defined as 2/3rds yea's)
• Where appropriate, Technical Steering Committee will delegate decisions, harmonization tasks, issues resolution, etc. to the Steering Divisions
• Tactical tasks currently included in policies and bylaws and assigned to the current Technical Chair will be responsibilities of CTO
• TSC Chair should be named an ex officio voting member of the Board
• The "HL7 Technical Steering Committee" document is a living document that shall be continually refined by the TSC, and represents the "contract" between the TSC and the HL7 Board

Plan to Elect TSC between now and September 2007 WGM

• In the following schedules, all actions open and close at 11:59PM US Eastern time
• Between June 6 and July 6, accept nominations for SD Representatives from the Co-Chairs within the SD
• Between July 9 and August 8, committees vote (one vote per committee) to elect SD Representative (top vote getter) and SD Alternate (second vote getter) to the TSC. These two individuals become the SD Co-chairs, as well.
• Between July 10 and August 9, accept nominations for Affiliate Representatives from the Affiliate Organizations, including the US Affiliate
• Between August 13 and September 12, Affiliates vote to elect two Affiliate Representatives (top two vote getters) to the TSC.
• Board to name Board Liaison before September WGM
• Chief Technology Officer process is up to the Board
• Have scheduled meeting space in Atlanta for:
  • the SDs to meet Monday evening, immediately following final meeting of "old" TSC. (Consideration should also be given to a new "TSC" open mic sessions after the old TSC adjourns and before the SDs convene.)
  • "New" TSC to meet Tuesday lunch; and Thursday morning, 7-8