Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions
Marilyn, Bruce and fellow Councillors Further to Marilyn's posted suggestion that Council arrange for staff planning/administration calls every two weeks, I support this request, and in addition, have two related requests. 1. A further contribution to Council would be a better understanding of who and what staff support we have available. This would be improved if each of those staff who actively participate in Council matters provide to Council a short description of their role in the ICANN organisation and how much of their role and time is available to support the GNSO Council. It would be useful to have this from at least Olof, Maria and now Liz. As an open and transparent organisation, this should not need discussion or resolution of Council. Bruce, please make this request to staff on my behalf as a Council member. 2. I would like to see a prioritised project/task list for GNSO projects and tasks, kept up to date by staff so we can see ongoing progress and plans, not just a snapshot prior to calls. I am familiar with open source project/task management tools which may be suitable if ICANN does not already have such. Bruce, please add these to Marilyn's agenda item for the next call. Also, a note to say that I would like to contribute to the better governance of GNSO Council by participating in the proposed admin calls. Regards, Alick -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Cade Sent: Monday, 8 August 2005 10:21 a.m. To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions Dear fellow councilors Council has a lot on its plate regarding policy work, and I am mindful of a recent posting by Ross Rader that reminds us that Council needs to set priorities that drives its work, and thus our supporting staff. I think we will all probably agree that the monthly Council calls should ideally be left primarily to the task of policy management; yet there is a need for Council to be able to better organize itself and its policy-support needs, and for a constructive and ongoing interaction between Council and staff regarding Council's priorities; addressing administrative challenges they face in their policy support work, such as competing priorities, lack of clarity in a Council request, additional participation by councilors with background expertise to contribute, discussion of whether other external resources are needed, etc. I am proposing a trial approach of "planning and coordination" sessions via conference call with the Council chair and any Council members who wished to participate and supported by the GNSO support staff : (Olaf, Maria, Glen, plus any temporary consultant such as Liz Williams). I suggest that we trial the approach of a 45 minute call every two weeks/fortnightly for the period between now and Vancouver. The outcome of these calls would be reported to the full Council in the usual monthly progress report we currently receive on the monthly Council calls. The planning and coordination calls would not address policy development work, but administrative management and coordination. Right now, we have a number of significant policy issues to work on as Council. This approach would ensure that we can focus on the monthly Council calls on those issues, yet have an effective way to better manage ourselves and provide administrative input to the supporting staff. I welcome feedback on this idea. Marilyn Cade
I concur with both Marilyn's original suggestion and Alick's suggestions. On 8/11/2005 2:11 AM Alick Wilson noted that:
Marilyn, Bruce and fellow Councillors
Further to Marilyn's posted suggestion that Council arrange for staff planning/administration calls every two weeks, I support this request, and in addition, have two related requests.
1. A further contribution to Council would be a better understanding of who and what staff support we have available. This would be improved if each of those staff who actively participate in Council matters provide to Council a short description of their role in the ICANN organisation and how much of their role and time is available to support the GNSO Council. It would be useful to have this from at least Olof, Maria and now Liz. As an open and transparent organisation, this should not need discussion or resolution of Council. Bruce, please make this request to staff on my behalf as a Council member.
2. I would like to see a prioritised project/task list for GNSO projects and tasks, kept up to date by staff so we can see ongoing progress and plans, not just a snapshot prior to calls. I am familiar with open source project/task management tools which may be suitable if ICANN does not already have such.
Bruce, please add these to Marilyn's agenda item for the next call.
Also, a note to say that I would like to contribute to the better governance of GNSO Council by participating in the proposed admin calls.
Regards, Alick
-----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Cade Sent: Monday, 8 August 2005 10:21 a.m. To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions
Dear fellow councilors
Council has a lot on its plate regarding policy work, and I am mindful of a recent posting by Ross Rader that reminds us that Council needs to set priorities that drives its work, and thus our supporting staff.
I think we will all probably agree that the monthly Council calls should ideally be left primarily to the task of policy management; yet there is a need for Council to be able to better organize itself and its policy-support needs, and for a constructive and ongoing interaction between Council and staff regarding Council's priorities; addressing administrative challenges they face in their policy support work, such as competing priorities, lack of clarity in a Council request, additional participation by councilors with background expertise to contribute, discussion of whether other external resources are needed, etc.
I am proposing a trial approach of "planning and coordination" sessions via conference call with the Council chair and any Council members who wished to participate and supported by the GNSO support staff : (Olaf, Maria, Glen, plus any temporary consultant such as Liz Williams). I suggest that we trial the approach of a 45 minute call every two weeks/fortnightly for the period between now and Vancouver. The outcome of these calls would be reported to the full Council in the usual monthly progress report we currently receive on the monthly Council calls. The planning and coordination calls would not address policy development work, but administrative management and coordination.
Right now, we have a number of significant policy issues to work on as Council. This approach would ensure that we can focus on the monthly Council calls on those issues, yet have an effective way to better manage ourselves and provide administrative input to the supporting staff.
I welcome feedback on this idea.
Marilyn Cade
-- Regards, -rwr "In the modern world the intelligence of public opinion is the one indispensable condition for social progress." - Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926)
All, in general I agree with both views especially with Alik on the use of project tools which I would greatly welcome. I'm mostly concerned with the effectiveness of the council as well as the effectiveness of staff. One thing we have to be cautious about is that more council staff meetings lead to less time for council and staff to do actual work. They situation we have right now is that the process of how council is working for itself and together with staff is not very clear and should be better defined. Meetings to discuss process every two weeks is certainly a step in the right direction but, as time passes on and the process becomes clearer, might be unnecessary and lead to a micro management of staff through the council. My thought would be to form a working group with a defined scope and timeframe (nothing fancy we would not need to spend hours on the definitions) which should meet with staff to work on how a future process in regard to planning/administration could look like as well as to work on actual action items during this timeframe. Best, tom . Am 11.08.2005 schrieb Ross Wm. Rader:
I concur with both Marilyn's original suggestion and Alick's suggestions.
On 8/11/2005 2:11 AM Alick Wilson noted that:
Marilyn, Bruce and fellow Councillors
Further to Marilyn's posted suggestion that Council arrange for staff planning/administration calls every two weeks, I support this request, and in addition, have two related requests.
1. A further contribution to Council would be a better understanding of who and what staff support we have available. This would be improved if each of those staff who actively participate in Council matters provide to Council a short description of their role in the ICANN organisation and how much of their role and time is available to support the GNSO Council. It would be useful to have this from at least Olof, Maria and now Liz. As an open and transparent organisation, this should not need discussion or resolution of Council. Bruce, please make this request to staff on my behalf as a Council member.
2. I would like to see a prioritised project/task list for GNSO projects and tasks, kept up to date by staff so we can see ongoing progress and plans, not just a snapshot prior to calls. I am familiar with open source project/task management tools which may be suitable if ICANN does not already have such.
Bruce, please add these to Marilyn's agenda item for the next call.
Also, a note to say that I would like to contribute to the better governance of GNSO Council by participating in the proposed admin calls.
Regards, Alick
-----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Cade Sent: Monday, 8 August 2005 10:21 a.m. To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions
Dear fellow councilors
Council has a lot on its plate regarding policy work, and I am mindful of a recent posting by Ross Rader that reminds us that Council needs to set priorities that drives its work, and thus our supporting staff.
I think we will all probably agree that the monthly Council calls should ideally be left primarily to the task of policy management; yet there is a need for Council to be able to better organize itself and its policy-support needs, and for a constructive and ongoing interaction between Council and staff regarding Council's priorities; addressing administrative challenges they face in their policy support work, such as competing priorities, lack of clarity in a Council request, additional participation by councilors with background expertise to contribute, discussion of whether other external resources are needed, etc.
I am proposing a trial approach of "planning and coordination" sessions via conference call with the Council chair and any Council members who wished to participate and supported by the GNSO support staff : (Olaf, Maria, Glen, plus any temporary consultant such as Liz Williams). I suggest that we trial the approach of a 45 minute call every two weeks/fortnightly for the period between now and Vancouver. The outcome of these calls would be reported to the full Council in the usual monthly progress report we currently receive on the monthly Council calls. The planning and coordination calls would not address policy development work, but administrative management and coordination.
Right now, we have a number of significant policy issues to work on as Council. This approach would ensure that we can focus on the monthly Council calls on those issues, yet have an effective way to better manage ourselves and provide administrative input to the supporting staff.
I welcome feedback on this idea.
Marilyn Cade
-- Regards,
-rwr
"In the modern world the intelligence of public opinion is the one indispensable condition for social progress." - Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926)
Gruss, tom (__) (OO)_____ (oo) /|\ A cow is not entirely full of | |--/ | * milk some of it is hamburger! w w w w
I concur with both Marilyn's original suggestion and Alick's suggestions.
On 8/11/2005 2:11 AM Alick Wilson noted that:
Marilyn, Bruce and fellow Councillors
Further to Marilyn's posted suggestion that Council arrange for staff planning/administration calls every two weeks, I support this request, and in addition, have two related requests.
1. A further contribution to Council would be a better understanding of who and what staff support we have available. This would be improved if each of those staff who actively participate in Council matters provide to Council a short description of their role in the ICANN organisation and how much of their role and time is available to support the GNSO Council. It would be useful to have this from at least Olof, Maria and now Liz. As an open and transparent organisation, this should not need discussion or resolution of Council. Bruce, please make this request to staff on my behalf as a Council member.
2. I would like to see a prioritised project/task list for GNSO projects and tasks, kept up to date by staff so we can see ongoing progress and plans, not just a snapshot prior to calls. I am familiar with open source project/task management tools which may be suitable if ICANN does not already have such.
Bruce, please add these to Marilyn's agenda item for the next call.
Also, a note to say that I would like to contribute to the better governance of GNSO Council by participating in the proposed admin calls.
Regards, Alick
-----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Cade Sent: Monday, 8 August 2005 10:21 a.m. To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions
Dear fellow councilors
Council has a lot on its plate regarding policy work, and I am mindful of a recent posting by Ross Rader that reminds us that Council needs to set priorities that drives its work, and thus our supporting staff.
I think we will all probably agree that the monthly Council calls should ideally be left primarily to the task of policy management; yet there is a need for Council to be able to better organize itself and its policy-support needs, and for a constructive and ongoing interaction between Council and staff regarding Council's priorities; addressing administrative challenges they face in their policy support work, such as competing priorities, lack of clarity in a Council request, additional
It seems to me that we should do both, Tom. But in different schedules. First, start with the administration and coordination calls, which I proposed we do routinely between now and VC, after we discuss this further on the Council call on the 18th. Then, in VC, we can, as Council, in our Administrative/Planning session discuss how best to achieve the most effective outcomes that support the Council's roles and responsibilities--such as the idea of forming "a small group with a specific assignment" as you have proposed. I support putting that approach on the agenda to discuss in Vancouver. And then we would have had a few weeks of working calls to guide the Council and staff is discussion of best approaches. In the meantime, I will post a draft calendar of conference call dates probably Monday evening or Tuesday a.m. so folks can look at it before the Council call. -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Keller Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 11:31 AM To: Ross Wm. Rader Cc: alick.wilson@xendra.co.nz; 'Marilyn Cade'; council@gnso.icann.org; 'Bruce Tonkin' Subject: Re: [council] Administrative planning and coordination Council/Staff working sessions All, in general I agree with both views especially with Alik on the use of project tools which I would greatly welcome. I'm mostly concerned with the effectiveness of the council as well as the effectiveness of staff. One thing we have to be cautious about is that more council staff meetings lead to less time for council and staff to do actual work. They situation we have right now is that the process of how council is working for itself and together with staff is not very clear and should be better defined. Meetings to discuss process every two weeks is certainly a step in the right direction but, as time passes on and the process becomes clearer, might be unnecessary and lead to a micro management of staff through the council. My thought would be to form a working group with a defined scope and timeframe (nothing fancy we would not need to spend hours on the definitions) which should meet with staff to work on how a future process in regard to planning/administration could look like as well as to work on actual action items during this timeframe. Best, tom Am 11.08.2005 schrieb Ross Wm. Rader: participation
by councilors with background expertise to contribute, discussion of whether other external resources are needed, etc.
I am proposing a trial approach of "planning and coordination" sessions via conference call with the Council chair and any Council members who wished
to participate and supported by the GNSO support staff : (Olaf, Maria, Glen, plus any temporary consultant such as Liz Williams). I suggest that we trial the approach of a 45 minute call every two weeks/fortnightly for the period between now and Vancouver. The outcome of these calls would be reported to the full Council in the usual monthly progress report we currently receive on the monthly Council calls. The planning and coordination calls would not address policy development work, but administrative management and coordination.
Right now, we have a number of significant policy issues to work on as Council. This approach would ensure that we can focus on the monthly Council calls on those issues, yet have an effective way to better manage ourselves and provide administrative input to the supporting staff.
I welcome feedback on this idea.
Marilyn Cade
-- Regards,
-rwr
"In the modern world the intelligence of public opinion is the one indispensable condition for social progress." - Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926)
Gruss, tom (__) (OO)_____ (oo) /|\ A cow is not entirely full of | |--/ | * milk some of it is hamburger! w w w w
participants (4)
-
Alick Wilson -
Marilyn Cade -
Ross Wm. Rader -
Thomas Keller