RE: [xtm-wg] Swindon Minutes Module #1: Marketing

["Kal Ahmed" <kal@ontopia.net>]

>
> [draft minutes]
> > >     (2) The Marketing Subgroup is directed and required to consider
> > >         whether and how any market research activities may be
> > >         appropriate, and to undertake such research activities as it
> > >         deems appropriate and practical.  The results of all such
> > >         research shall be made available promptly to the AG for
> > >         distribution to the Participating Members, and ownership of
> > >         the results of such research shall reside solely with the AG.
>
> [Kal Ahmed:]
>
> > I thought that we had gone further than that in the meeting. We
> > certainly discussed the requirement that all market research be
> > performed by an independant entity, and it was my impression that
> > this was generally agreed on.
>
> Hmmm.  I take it that you're expressing a reservation, but not
> actually proposing a revision to the minutes which would affect
> the marching orders of the Marketing Subgroup.
>
> I think we should not tell the Marketing Subgroup how to do its job,
> especially considering that the Marketing Subgroup will be 100%
> self-supporting.  I expect that it will support itself, at least at
> first, by taxing the organizations of its own members.  For the AG to
> impose such a constraint would be like telling someone how to spend
> his own money.  In any case, I think it would be impossible to define
> the intent of an "independent entity" requirement.  All manner of
> pre-existing relationships are possible between persons and between
> organizations.  In our small industrial community, most people in
> leadership positions already know most of the other people in
> leadership positions.  It would be self-defeating for the AG to insist
> that only market research organizations who don't know anything about
> our industry need apply for the job of doing market research for XTM.
> I think we have to be satisfied that, if the Marketing Subgroup votes
> to adopt a plan whereby market research is accomplished, each member
> will, prior to voting, have considered carefully the implications of
> such a plan with respect to the welfare of his own organization.
> That's really the best that can be done, and it's all we should
> attempt to do, IMHO.
>

Absolutely. As long as all interested parties get opportunity for
representation on the Marketing Subgroup, I think that the group will be
self-regulating enough for comfort. However, I disagree that it is
self-defeating to employ an independant entity with no pre-conceived ideas
about topic maps to do market research. In fact I would say that it could be
a positive benefit to have an experienced market researcher report on this
area without carrying the baggage of having either pre-formed ideas or a
company to support.

Cheers,

Kal


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