Process question

Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 07:30:51 -0300 (ADT)
From: "David L. Potter" <potter@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: CCN Board of Directors <ccn-board@chebucto.ns.ca>
cc: CCN Editors <editors@chebucto.ns.ca>, CCN Tech <ccn-tech@chebucto.ns.ca>, CCN Information Provider Committee <ccn-ip@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <ccn-ip-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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There are a significant number of issues in disput here but I'm going to 
return to ground of which I am very sure... that

"The recent changes to the IP registration process were arbitrary and 
flawed in process, they reflect questionable technical judgement, and 
evidence a lack of regard and consideration for other stakeholders."

Suggestions that I was part of discussions relating to this change are an 
utter fabrication. To suggest that I happened to miss the meeting in 
which these changes were discussed and thus in some way disinfranchised 
myself raises the spectre of manipulation of information and process.

THE ACID TEST OF A PROCESS INTENDED TO BUILD CONCENSUS IS THAT IT DOES!

There is NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE of consensus on the part of the IP and 
technical committees with the decision to start allocating filespace for 
organizations under the  home/ file system. The technical implications of 
this type of action demand a detailed technical review PRIOR to such changes. 

These decisions have been undertaken by individuals who do not posess 
sufficient technical expertice with CCN systems to appreciate the complexity 
and implications with respect to our systems. They obviously do not 
understand that we pool our technical knowledge and approach challenges 
from the strongest techncial position. They effectively have become 
individuals making decisions about matters they are not qualified to 
decide... a singularly undesirable management model.

The suggestion that, suddenly by decree, we no longer have Information 
Providers, and that previous administration issues are suddenly, no longer 
our problem reflects a disregard for our user/clients, represents linguistic 
sleight of hand, and misrepresents the actual relationship between these 
organizations and CCN.

The 'detailed' rebutals that has been offered to Chris Majka's observations 
are full of half-truths, ignorance about the existance/value of tools at 
hand, mistaken assumptions, and statements that appear designed to gloss 
over a serious break with the traditions of CCN. They further evidence a 
complete disregard for the experience of volunteers in these areas. To 
continue down this road is a sure opportunity for the board to see if the 
organizaiton can operate without volunteers.

The recent changes in registration procedure went ahead without a specific 
request for changes/improvements to the administrative tools. THIS IS A 
STRONG INDICATION THAT THE ACTUAL ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENT HAD NOT 
EVEN BEEN DETERMINED. This clearly suggests action was undertaken 
before the process was complete and further highlights the degree to which 
these decisions have been made in a vacuum.

The individuals (volunters) who have had the most contact with CCN 
Information Providers have been marginalized in these events in what appears 
to be a dream of controlling the entire organization from the office.

To find the co-chair of the Volunteer Committee a central figure in this 
uglyness is a clear indication of his singular unsuitability for that role. 


david potter

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