CM comments on TD definition from Strategic Recommendations

This is an editted version of the SI proposals for what the TD should do -- The suggestions created by Charlie McCay have not been reviewed by the T3F and so should not be taken as official policy or endorsed in any way

Technical Directorate

The Technical Directorate (TD) is responsible for product project approval and management oversight. It will rely on both staff and volunteers with increasing levels of professional staffing as the financial model allows. Note: Volunteer representatives to the TD should have sufficient support from their employers to ensure an average of 3-4 hours/week participation.

Responsibilities:

The list of items in here are the same ones Charlie posted on 1/30. All I have done is to "define" a trio of categories and then assign each of the original items to one of the categories. (One item was copied into two categories.) I did reorder them for better consistency. WoodyBeeler

Oversee development of standards (products)

Assures that the efforts of the Working Group (WG) to produce standards proceeds at a reasonable pace

• Oversees standards development
  • Current: ?MnM, ?TSC, ?not happening
  • Propose: Establish visibility required, TD to work with TSC on process (JTC: Enforcement on adherence to methodology? It is common for there to be a lack of HDF components being submitted for ballot)
• Approves new work groups based on priority projects
  • Current: TSC
  • Proposed: TD
• Approves, monitors, and may intervene in product project development
  • Current: ARB and project office, and self regulation by committees
  • Propose: TD sets remit for ARB and project office
• Manages progress and productivity, resolves committee charters against the product and services strategy set by the Board
  • Propose: Clarify how Product and Services strategy is maintained
• Sets milestones, monitors and ensures that quality assurance has been done
  • Current: None
  • Proposed: TD Provide targets and overview for PMO
• Reviews and approves requests from Technical Committees to initiate a ballot
  • Propose: TD to establish process with Process Group
• Reviews requests for new projects. Upon acceptance of the proposal, solicits input from the TSC for appropriate committee placement
  • Propose: Direct project request to appropriate committee to develop initial Project Scope / Proposal
• Recommends project probation or dissolution to the Board following collaboration with the TSC
  • Propose: TD to establish process where ineffective projects close without need for intervention

Provide a Coherent Architecture and Development Process

Establishes (or reviews) the Technical Architecture, the development methodologies, and the work processes to be used by the WG in developing HL7 specifications

• Supports CTO in development and implementation of HL7 Technical Architecture and standards development
  • Current: Done by ARB, MnM (HDF), PIC/ORC, Transition teams
  • Propose: Process Group established to maintain definitive process (HDF), or review focus of HDF/PIC group
• Responsible for methods and process for quality assurance
  • Current: MnM
  • Proposed: TD to work with Process Group
• Defines international harmonization mechanism and manages process
  • part of process task
• Explains to project-sponsoring committee the requirements for quality assurance and monitor committee performance to carry out QA
  • Current: ?None
  • Proposed: Work with Process Group to expose (verifiable) benefits of new process

Resolve Issues and Omissions within the Scope and Work Product of WG

Assures that the WG works smoothly together and covers the work scope in a consistent manner

• Oversees continuous quality process
  • Current: TSC?, PIC, ARB
  • Proposed: Technical Quality and Process Quality split between son-of-ARB and HDF/PIC
• Identifies gaps, overlaps and conflicts in domain content and recommends resolution
  • generic responsibility -- catch-all for making technical solution better - this is a TD responsibility
  • Current: MnM / add hoc (eg Clinical Statement, Common orders)
  • Proposed: TD working through sub-groups

Operation of the TD:

• Meets bi-weekly between Working Group Meetings (WGM)
• Meets on the opening and closing day of each WGM
• Meetings are open to the public, unless called into executive session by CTO; non-members may ask to be recognized