RE: [legalxml-ms] Recruitment of consultant(s) to draft specifications

["T J Smith" <TJSmith@ITDecision.com>]

John,

 

In issuing this recruitment I think you may have at least indirectly addressed some of the concerns listed in my posting of August 10th (included below): "Technical Writer" is now "Consultant," and any time frames for deliverables have been deleted. Since I (and the TC, for that matter) don't have the benefit of a formal response to my concerns, I don't know whether to think of these changes as "fixes" or "patches."

 

For the record, I remain particularly concerned about the consequences of incomplete requirements (item 3 in my posting), and the implied commitments regarding TC activities or deliverables (item 2) in light of past performance. I don't know if other members of the TC share these concerns, but as this course is being taken in the name of the Member Section and thus the TC, I believe it's incumbent upon the co-chairs to address them. Also, I would very much appreciate knowing what the candidate selection criteria will be.

 

Mind you, I am not arguing that obtaining outside or paid help is something the TC shouldn't do, only that we should make every effort to do it right. It may be our last shot.

 

TJS

 

Tom Smith

AVI/ITDecision

 

tjsmith@itdecision.com

650.591.1795 (Ofc)

650.346.7689 (Mobile)

650.591.1425 (Fax)

 

-----Original Message-----
From: T J Smith [mailto:TJSmith@itdecision.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 10:56 AM
To: John Greacen; Electronic Court Filing Technical Committeee
Subject: RE: [legalxml-courtfiling] Attached technical writer statement of work

As I mentioned during today's call, I have the following problems with the Technical Writer Statement of Work.

 

1. The nature of the work to be completed far exceeds the role of a Technical Writer. A Tech Writer ("scribe") is undoubtedly needed for a project of this scope, but it will also require an architect, designer, or someone with a broader grasp of the technology (which I note isn't specified) and how it can be applied to the business problem.
2. The deliverables described in the SOW are dependent on things to be produced by the TC (see for instance tasks 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3b). I suggest the TC deliver these things before hiring anyone because (1) they are essentially on the critical path for the project, so any delays will affect project deadlines, (2) many of them should probably be reviewed and approved by the TC as a whole, and (3) they could be useful in screening candidates.
3. The SOW speaks of consolidating use cases, but by themselves use cases do not constitute the formal requirements that I suggest are appropriate for a project of this significance - which, after all, hopes to produce a national standard. A requirements document normally specifies many things that aren't made explicit by use cases.
4. The scope of the project's deliverables isn't clear: I assume it includes Filing and some sort of Confirmation, but does it also include Policy, Query-Response, or an API?
5. Given the above, I suspect the time frames are unrealistic.

TJS

-----Original Message-----
From: John Greacen [mailto:john@greacen.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 6:54 PM
To: legalxml-ms@lists.oasis-open.org
Cc: karl.best@oasis-open.org
Subject: [legalxml-ms] Recruitment of consultant(s) to draft specifications

Dear colleagues – The LegalXML Member Section Steering Committee – with the concurrence of OASIS management – has decided to procure the services of a consultant or consultants to move our specification development process forward at a faster rate.  In the past when a participating organization was able to devote a staff member’s time to assisting a technical committee in developing a specification, the process moved with considerable speed.  

 

I attach a request for proposals for serving as a consultant to the Member Section.  I invite any member of the LegalXML Member Section to apply for this position.  I also invite you to post the request for proposals on sites or lists where it may attract the attention of interested and qualified persons, or to refer it to friends, colleagues or acquaintances who may be interested and able to assist the Member Section.

 

Proposals are due on or before August 27^th.

 

Thank you for your assistance in this recruitment process.

 

 

 

John M. Greacen

Greacen Associates, LLC

HCR 78, Box 23

Regina, New Mexico 87046

505-289-2164

505-289-2163 (fax)

505-780-1450 (cell)