Standards Invitations Assure Smoother Balloting

Automation has not only simplified balloting, as noted in the October 1994 issue, but it has also helped with the formation of balloting groups. The first step in this automation process is the invitation-to-ballot.

What on earth is an invitation-to-ballot? This is a commonly asked question with a simple answer. Basic data on 37 000 active volunteers are in the Standards Department relational database. Most are coded with one or more society affiliates. When the Sponsor Chair or Working Group Chair of a draft project requests the formation of a group for balloting purposes, an invitation is created and sent to those who are identified as having related technical interests. Those who are interested in balloting on a standard, return the invitation and classify themselves with respect to the standard as producer, user, academic or general interest, and the project number is coded in their file. The balloting group roster is then checked against the IEEE database to assure membership status to preserve the integrity of the balloting group. The balloting group is reviewed by the sponsor to ensure balanced representation. The ballot is then sent.

In the last few months, invitations to ballot have been delivered to thousands more people than ever before by means of email. Many members who have not balloted for years, but are still interested in the standards process, have been sent invitations via the Internet. Many others who are active in the industry but have never balloted have responded positively.

In 1995, the SPAsystem (TM) will display all open invitations so that potential balloters will have easy access to reviewing projects. Receiving invitations issued on behalf of one or more committees is an excellent way to keep up-to-date on what's going on in your part of the industry, and returning the invitation is an even better way to be counted in the process.

For more information on this process, contact Rosemary Tennis at r.tennis@ieee.org or (908) 562-3811.