IEEE Design Automation Standards Committee

Draft Guidelines for DASC Study Groups

31 May 2004


When a proposal comes before DASC for initiation of a standards
development project, the DASC-SC may form a Study Group to examine the
proposal.  If the proposal merits formation of a project, the Study
Group will draft a Project Authorization Request (PAR) for
consideration by the DASC-SC.

These guidelines specify how a Study Group should conduct business and
the criteria it should apply to consideration of a proposal.


1. Conduct of Business
----------------------

A DASC Study Group is formed as a subgroup of the DASC, and is
subject to the operating procedures of the DASC and its parent
bodies, including the IEEE-CS Standards Activities Board (SAB) and the
IEEE-SA Standards Board (IEEE-SASB).

A Study Group will have a Chair, appointed by the DASC-SC.  The DASC
Chair should act as a mentor to the Study Group Chair, if required, to
ensure that due process is followed and that the Study Group fulfils
its purpose.

The Chair should appoint a Secretary, whose duties should include

- maintaining a roster of Study Group participants
- establishing an email list for conduct of email discussions
- keeping and publishing record of meetings

As soon as practicable after formation of the Study Group, the Chair
should distribute a call for participation in the Study Group.  The
call should be distributed to all DASC members and to other lists at
the disposal of the DASC.  Further distribution should also be
considered to ensure all materially interested parties have the
opportunity to participate.

The Chair should schedule the conduct of business to be complete
within six months of formation of the Study Group.  The deliverable
from the Study Group to the DASC-SC should be a report addressing the
criteria for consideration and, if appropriate, the draft PAR.


2. Criteria for consideration
-----------------------------

The purpose of the Study Group is:

(a) to determine whether sufficient interest and resources exist to
    develop a draft standard, and

(b) if so, to develop a PAR for the proposed project.

The DASC is required to consider the following issues when evaluating
a project proposal (from the IEEE-CS/SAB procedures):

1. Broad market potential - consider: broad set(s) of applications
   multiple suppliers, and users

2. Compatibility with related standards

3. Distinct identity - consider: substantially different from other
   projects, unique solution for scope/purpose, easy for document
   reader to select relevant specification

4. Technical feasibility - consider: demonstrated feasibility, proven
   technology, confidence in reliability

5. Viable volunteer leadership & participation - consider: identified
   project leader, project editor, employer support, sufficient active
   participants

6. Realistic objectives - consider: scope of work and focus, time
   frame for completion, potential for "subdivision" into deliverables

7. Opportunity to establish new areas of expertise within the Computer
   Society - consider: emerging technology, providing a focal point
   for diverse interests, avoiding conflict with other standards
   development groups

The Study Group should prepare a report to the DASC-SC to accompany a
PAR addressing these issues.

Identify any coordination needed and recommend a process for coordination.

When developing the PAR, the Study Group should review and ensure
compliance with the Working Guide provided by the IEEE-SASB (see
standards.ieee.org/guides/par/parinstruction.html).

The Study Group should ensure that the Intellectual Property questions
are properly explored and addressed, and provide supporting
information to DASC-SC in its report.

The Study Group should take account of the NesCom Conventions for
reviewing PARs (see standards.ieee.org/guides/par/nesconv.html) and
the NesCom Checklist (see
standards.ieee.org/guides/companion/part1.html#approval).

The Study Group should liaise with IEC TC93 representatives to
determine IEC interest in the proposed project.  If there is interest,
the Study Group should recommend coordination with IEC TC93 and
identify a TC93 representative to act as liaison member of the working
group.

The Study Group Chair should liaise with the DASC Chair to ensure that
all of the required information is produced for completion of the PAR
form.  The Study Group Chair must not submit the PAR form without
approval of the DASC-SC.


3. Checklist of items to provide to DASC-SC
-------------------------------------------

Upon completion of its work, the Study Group should provide the
following items to the DASC-SC

- Report addressing issues
- Roster of Study Group members
- Minutes of meetings (or pointer to on-line copies)
- If the Study Group recommends developing a new standard:
    - Draft PAR
    - Letters of assurance from patent holders, as appropriate
    - Letters of donation of IP, as appropriate
    - Recommendation for IEC liaison, if appropriate
    - Project schedule