Subject: SC22 N2366 - JTC 1 Draft Transition Plan - Implementing IT

From: "william c. rinehuls" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 17:56:43 -0500 (EST)

_________________beginning of title page __________________________
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22
Programming languages, their environments and system software interfaces
Secretariat:  U.S.A.  (ANSI)

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22
N2366

January 1997

TITLE:                  Draft Transition Plan for Implementation of IT
                        in JTC 1

SOURCE:                 Secretariat, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22

WORK ITEM:              N/A

STATUS:                 Since the time period for response to this
                        document does not permit SC22 to develop SC22
                        comments, SC22 Member Bodies are requested to
                        provide general comments through their National
                        Bodies.  Specific comments related to SC22 use
                        of this document should be forwarded to 
                        Mr. Robert Follett, JTC 1/SC22 Chairman.

CROSS REFERENCE:        SC22 N2365

DOCUMENT TYPE:          N/A

ACTION:                 To SC22 Member Bodies, WG Conveners and HODs
                        for information or action, as applicable.

Address reply to:
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22 Secretariat
William C. Rinehuls
8457 Rushing Creek Court
Springfield, VA 22153 USA
Tel:  +1 (703) 912-9680
Fax:  +1 (703) 912-2973
email:  [email-masked]
________________________end of title page; beginning of text __________
ISO/IEC JTC 1                                                         
Information Technology                                                

ISO/IEC  JTC 1 N 4244revised                   

DATE:  1996.12.20     

REPLACES                                     

DOC TYPE:
Other document                                                        

TITLE:
Draft Transition Plan for Implementation of IT in JTC 1               

SOURCE:
JTC 1 Ad Hoc on Strategy for Implementing IT                          

PROJECT:                   

STATUS:
This document is circulated to JTC 1 National Bodies for review and   
comemnt by 31 January 1997.  Comments received will be considered at  
the 25-27 Feb. 1997 Ad Hoc meeting in Washington, DC.                 

ACTION ID:  ACT 

DUE DATE:  1997.01.31

DISTRIBUTION:  P and L Members                                             

MEDIUM:  D

DISKETTE NO.:  98        

NO. OF PAGES:  5         

Secretariat, ISO/IEC JTC 1, American National Standards Institute, 11 
West 42nd Street, New York, NY  10036; Telephone:  1 212 642 4932;    
Facsimile:  1 212 398 0023; Email:  [email-masked]                 

	ISO/IEC JTC 1 N 4244 revError! Bookmark not defined.	(Revised N 3901)	DIN-NI/1995-12-09ISO/IEC JTC 1Information TechnologySecretariat: National Body (ANSI)TITLE:	Draft Transition Plan for Implementation of IT in JTC 110	Introductory RemarksThis proposal for the JTC 1 IT transition plan (ITTP) tries to specify certain reasonable stages of electronic document distribution in JTC 1 as well as conditions and reasons for transition from one to the next stage. The proposal refers to the "Revised JTC 1 Policy on Electronic Document Distribution" (JTC 1 N 4054 rev.) and the "Strategy Recommendation on Implementing IT" (JTC 1 N 3721).

Where data transmission services are mentioned in the proposal, the neutral terms "e-mail" and "file transfer" are used. The authors are aware of the high probability that Internet services will be used because of their good availability. But, in accordance with the strategy document, JTC 1 should always try to implement solutions based on ISs.

The temporary application of e-mail or reflectors in WGs or ad-hoc groups and the installation of WWW servers for information of the public are not within the scope of this proposal.

It is the decision of each committee and its subsidiary bodies (members of the distribution list as defined in section 8.3 of the ISO/IEC JTC 1 Directives) which stage should be applied.. Usage of electronic document distribution shall not be used to preclude a member from participation in the technical work.

To evaluate the successful implementation of a certain stage of electronic document distribution it should be checked, whether
-	the document distribution has been accelerated,
-	the information needs of the members have been satisfied,
-	the effort of all participating parties for distribution and reception of documents has been reduced
compared to the previous stage.

The original document JTC 1 N 3901 was discussed an revised at the meeting of the JTC 1 Ad Hoc on Implementing Information Technology, 30 September to 2 October in London, UK.

1	Stages

Stage 0 - Distribution of paper documents

All JTC 1 documents are distributed as paper documents. A well established technology exists

a -	for management of distribution lists,
b -	for numbering of documents,
c -	for document formatting,
d -	for content and layout of cover sheets,
e -	for content, layout and distribution period of document registers,
f -	for receiving, processing, copying and redistributing of documents by NBs (by recipients),
g -	for document archives.

Stage 1 - Distribution of electronically available documents via diskettes

Documents available in electronic form are distributed via diskettes, documents only available in paper form are distributed as paper documents.

a -	Management of distribution lists:
As in Stage 0, because diskettes are mailed via postal service.
b -	Numbering of documents:
As in Stage 0. However, additional numbering of diskettes and naming of files is necessary, see JTC 1 N 4054 rev.
c -	Document formatting:
As in Stage 0, plus formatting guidelines for document files as in JTC 1 N 4054 rev.
d -	Cover sheet:
As in Stage 0, but as separate file.
e -	Document register:
A continuous document register as in Stage 0 is recommended, with an indication for each document, whether the document was distributed as file or as paper document, plus human readable and downloadable read-me files according to JTC 1 N 4054 rev.on the diskette for the documents contained on the diskette.
f -	Receiving, processing, copying, and redistributing of documents:
In the case of redistribution, facilities for copying of diskettes are necessary.
If reception, redistribution and/or archiving of paper documents is required, printing of the documents is necessary.
g -	Document archives:
Two possibilities exist:
-	to archive all documents as paper documents,
-	to archive only paper documents as paper documents and to archive electronically distributed documents on diskettes or file server.
	(In the preferable latter case it is necessary to identify in the document register where to search for the document, see "e").

Necessary improvements during application of Stage 1 before proceeding to the next stage:

-	Reduction of the number of different text processing systems to ease handling of documents in secretariats, to reduce required storage capacity, and to reduce transmission time for the next stages.

-	Solution for compression of data with respect to future stages.

Stage 2 - Document distribution via e-mail

The implementation of this stage based solely on e-mail is not feasable because of the limited size of the files that can be attached. Its implementation based on file transfer leads directly to stage 3.

Stage 3 - Document service via file server with active distribution of document register information

a -	Management of distribution lists:
The access to the file server should be restricted to the members of the distribution list.
b -	Numbering of documents:
As in Stage 1, but numbering of diskettes is no more necessary.
c -	Document formatting:
As in Stage 1
d -	Cover sheet:
As in Stage 1, but as a separate file.
e -	Document register (see JTC 1 N 4054 rev. clauses 4.4.4 and 4.4.5):
Continuous downloadable document register with actual updates. The document register is the only document which is required to be distributed actively by the secretariat concerned, e.g. once a week per mail or e-mail.

f -	Receiving, processing, copying, and redistribution of documents:
In the case of redistribution via file server, no further actions are necessary.
g -	Document archives:
Just to maintain the file server.

In stage 3 investigations should be made into the transposition of the remaining few paper documents into electronic documents (e.g. via transmission from paper fax to PC fax and by including the resulting format into the table of recommended formats of JTC 1 N 4054 rev.)
It is the duty of the secretariats at each level (JTC 1, SCs, NBs) have administrated authority to maintain their own file server according to their distribution list and to provide access only for the members of the distribution list (e.g. a given NB secretariat is on the JTC 1 distribution list and downloads a document from the JTC 1 file server into its own file server to which the members of the NBs distribution list have access). This is in order to control access to standardization documents and to save transmission costs. Agreements are possible between neighbouring NBs to share a file server.
Wherever access control is required, access control may be provided via a password, or other equally secure mechanisms such as hidden directory name, which can be obtained from the national body.

3	Stage Transitions

Stage transitions are a matter on which the members of a distribution list and the secretariat managing the distribution list should decide.
They depend on
-	how perfectly secretariat and members of the distribution list master the current state,
-	whether or not the secretariat is ready to master the next stage,
-	the percentage of members of the distribution list, who can apply the next stage. If the pecentage is not 100%, the secretariat has to decide whether it can manage two stages at the same time.

>From the point of view of efficiency in the secretariat, the secretariat should maintain only one stage or at maximum two stages at the same time.

JTC 1 is currently in stage 1. 

Transition Stage 0 to Stage 1

-	Stage 0 is perfectly mastered.
-	All redistributors (NBs and SC/WG secretariats) have access to a diskette copying facility.
-	All members of distribution lists have PC and printer access.
-	It can be guaranteed that all members will have identical print outs of a document (same page numbers, same diagrams, etc.).
In the case of large files with figures and voluminous tables, where a print out is none the less required (e.g., in the case of test suites), printing might become extremely time consuming. This might mean that for the first transition step to be successful, paper copies of very large documents should be available from the international secretariat on request (say, within a certain period of time) by the national body. It is up to the international secretariat to ask the editor of such a large document to supply a paper copy in parallel to diskettes.

Transition Stage 1 to Stage 2

(The implementation of stage 2 is not recommended)

-	Stage 1  is perfectly mastered.
-	JTC 1, all redistributors (NBs and SC/WG secretariats), and all committee members have access to file transfer services (for security reasons, this might take some time).

Transition to Stage 3

-	Stage 1, or 2 are perfectly mastered.
-	JTC 1 and all redistributors (NBs and SC/WG secretariats) are able to install file servers with access control so that access is restricted to members of the distribution list.
-	Commitee members have access to file tranfer.

In the case of international or regional servers, access control would be difficult to realize. Furthermore, this could cause problems in case of letter ballots.

For all stages, as a back up, the secretariat should be ready to provide paper versions for large documents on request.

Draft Transition Plan for Implementation of IT in JTC 1 Page 4 of 4
	Draft Transition Plan for Implementation of IT in JTC 1 Page 3 of 4

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