THE INSTITUTEAs I mentioned in my March message, the IEEE Technical Activities Board’s (TAB) work throughout 2018 will be focused through the efforts of volunteer-identified and member-driven ad hoc committees.
These opportunities, a number of which I’ve highlighted below, not only seek to further our technical footprint, but also strive to make Technical Activities more operationally efficient and strategically aware. I welcome you to familiarize yourself with these opportunities and, if interested, join us in TAB’s 2018 endeavors.
ROADMAPPING AD HOCS
The first open house for the Hardware Roadmapping effort, led by Fellow Dylan Williams, was held during the Orlando, Fla., TAB meeting in February. The aim of this group is to work with societies and councils to help identify hardware challenges in the industry segments they represent, and how those challenges might be addressed by new or existing IEEE hardware road-mapping efforts.
This committee will survey the technical challenges, partners, and road-map topics of interest to societies and councils. It will hold workshops and teleconferences as needed to promote discussion and identification of potential road-map efforts. If you are interested in participating, please email Dylan Williams.
A new IEEE Roadmapping Strategy and Governance (IRSG) committee has just initiated its efforts under the leadership of Life Fellow Rakesh Kumar. The number of road maps within IEEE is increasing. Internal coordination, to include policies, procedures, and guidelines, is becoming increasingly important to guide this critical technical area within TAB so that we might continue to expand our focus and explore new industry opportunities. This committee is particularly important as it aligns with the 2018 IEEE strategic goals and is supported by President Jim Jefferies. If you are interested in participating in this new area of exploration, please email Rakesh Kumar.
TAB CONTRACTS REVIEW AD HOC
The TAB Contracts Review committee was formed to develop solutions to render all contract reviews across TAB to be more efficient, and to ensure that the contract review process is user-friendly, timely, fair to all parties, and transparent, and that it governs all TAB transactions.
The committee, which is composed of IEEE volunteers and staff, held a workshop at the February TAB meeting to gather comments from interested parties, with the goal of developing a report to identifying the key problems in the current contract review process. The workshop results will be used to develop an outline of proposed solutions to the problems that IEEE is facing with contract review.
Its next workshop is scheduled for 23 June as part of the IEEE Board Series in New Brunswick, N.J.
FINTRANS DIRECTORY AD HOC
Much finance-related information exists on the IEEE website; however, the information is scattered on numerous Web pages. The goal of this committee is to create a directory of finance-related information for quick access and for use by societies and councils to support financial clarity and transparency. The following can now be found on the Technical Activities Operations website: journal page-budget-change cost estimator, timeliness (submission-to-publication) reports current and historical, IEEE Xplore Digital Library downloads data, and IEL revenue distribution details.
Soon to come will be the tech cosponsored conferences' financial details, society and council overhead details, and page/article charge details per society and council—voluntary, and overlength open access charges and revenues. For additional information, contact Life Fellow John Vig, the committee’s chair.
TAB OMBUDSMAN
The TAB ReConnect committee was formed last year to review existing processes to address society and council concerns. The final recommendation from the committee is establishing a TAB ombudsman to serve as a point of contact for issues within Technical Activities that have not been resolved through normal business processes. During the November 2017 meeting series, the new volunteer position was approved. The TAB management committee is in the process of receiving nominations and filling this position.
I look forward to working with you as we continue to build a technical member-driven community.
Kathy Land is the 2018 Technical Activities vice president.