Re: SUO: Program Semantics
Tim,
As Chair of this group, let me give you my limited perspective,
but I'm sure others will have different views.
You asked:
> Who does the SUO committee target as the consumers of the
> specifications
> under development?
See the "Purpose" portion of the 'Scope and Purpose" at
http://suo.ieee.org. We spent a lot of time on it, but that's as far as
we took it.
>
> Are representatives of this hypothetical consumer group involved in
> your work -
Some are, but my feeling is not enough are. Before a starter documet
becomes a standard, I feel it had better have numerous users providing
pragmatic feedback.
> have they assisted you in deriving requirements?
'Requirements' are essential to developing software, but
developing standards is usually done without much requirements analysis.
Typically, one stakeholder submits a base document, then other
stakeholders propose changes. If 75% of the bolloting group are getting
what they personally want, it becomes a standard.
The PAR (the charter for the group) requires a short 'Purpose'
statement, explaining why the standard is needed and who will beneift,
but that is often the extent of the requirements analysis, and that's
usually more of a concatenation of requirements than consensus. One
reason for this is that standards are usually developed by people and
organizations with widely varying requirements and objectives. They can
develop a good standard, but may have requirements that don't even
intersect.
>
> Are you chartered by one or more PARs from the IEEE Standards
> Board?
See PAR at http://suo.ieee.org.
>
> If so, what schedule requirements are derived from those
> authorizations?
Only schedule is a 4 year deadline, which comes with an easy 2-year
extention, plus an effective unlimited window (because you can always
resubmit a new PAR).
>
> Do you currently have direction to harmonize with any other
> knowledge or
> information based standards?
The PAR lists a few organizations we are required to coordinate with,
plus we'd be fools not to try to coordinate, for that's how you improve a
document and build buy-in.
Hope this helps a bit.
Jim Schoening
Chair, IEEE SUO WG
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