Operations Manual – Clause 5

IEEE Standards Association Operations Manual

5. Standing committees of the IEEE SA [1]

All members of the standing committees of the IEEE SA, as well as the members of any ad hoc committees appointed by the BOG or the IEEE SA President, shall act in accordance with applicable IEEE Standards policies and procedures, IEEE BylawsIEEE Policies including, but not limited to, Section 9.9 on Conflict of Interest, and Section 7.8 on the IEEE Code of Ethics.

5.1 IEEE SA Standards Board

The BOG shall establish and appoint a Standards Board to encourage and coordinate the development and revision of IEEE standards; to approve the initiation of IEEE standards projects; and to review them for consensus, due process, openness, and balance. The IEEE SA Standards Board shall give final approval to IEEE standards prior to publication and shall process all necessary appeals. The Standards and Standards Innovations SMDC shall provide guidance to the IEEE SA Standards Board on matters of strategy.

The rules and procedures for the IEEE SA Standards Board are contained in the IEEE SA Standards Board Bylaws and the IEEE SA Standards Board Operations Manual. The BOG shall approve proposed changes to the IEEE SA Standards Board Bylaws unless there is a conflict with its governing documents. Any conflict shall be resolved by a task force appointed by the IEEE SA President.

5.1.1 Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board

The Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board shall be appointed by the IEEE SA BOG, shall be an IEEE Member, Senior Member, or Fellow, and shall have previously served as a member of the IEEE SA Standards Board. This individual shall be chosen for management skills, a strong industrial background, leadership abilities, and experience with standards. The chair is responsible for moving the IEEE SA standards program forward effectively and efficiently. The chair shall ensure that the IEEE SA standards program works in the best interests of the IEEE.

The chair or a past chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board shall serve as an IEEE SA Vice President and the chair of the Standards and Standards Innovations SMDC (see 5.8.3).

5.1.2 Membership of the IEEE SA Standards Board

The IEEE SA Standards Board shall consist of no fewer than 18 nor more than 26 voting members, who shall be of Member or higher grade of the IEEE and who are members of the IEEE Standards Association. Included in the membership are the following:

  1. Chair: The Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board shall be appointed for a term of one year by the IEEE SA BOG. Subject to IEEE Bylaw I-304.5, the Chair is eligible for re-appointment for up to two additional consecutive one-year terms.
  2. Vice Chair: The Vice Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board shall be appointed by the IEEE SA Standards Board from among the voting members for a term of one year. Subject to IEEE Bylaw I-304.5, the Vice Chair is eligible for re-appointment for up to two additional consecutive one-year terms. This appointment shall be made by the Standards Board at the first meeting of the year.
  3. Past Chair: The most recent Past Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board willing to serve shall serve as a member of the Standards Board.
  4. Secretary: The Managing Director of Standards, or another member of the IEEE staff as designated by the IEEE Executive Director, shall serve as the Secretary of the IEEE SA Standards Board. The Secretary shall serve ex officio without vote.

Other voting members of the IEEE SA Standards Board shall be appointed by the IEEE SA BOG. The membership shall reflect the current standards needs of societies that are developing standards, industry sectors, international interests, and selected organizations (e.g., government, consumer). The representative of the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB), who is appointed by TAB, shall be a voting member. In addition, the IEEE SA Standards Board may include nonvoting participants as described below:

  1. Liaison representatives to provide coordination and communication between the IEEE SA Standards Board and other IEEE organizational units, as well as other organizations involved in standards activities.
  2. Members emeriti elected for life by the IEEE SA BOG, based on long years of prior distinguished service on the IEEE SA Standards Board and its committees. Only those members emeriti currently named to this position as of 31 December 1997 shall serve on the IEEE SA Standards Board.
  3. Observers from invited national governments.
5.1.2.1 Liaison representatives

The following persons serve as nonvoting (unless already voting members) liaison representatives to the IEEE SA Standards Board and its standing committees to assist in coordinating standardization work with their respective organizations:

  1. Representatives of IEEE Societies and Councils (and their Technical Committees), appointed by the Presidents or Chairs of these bodies. Standards Committees may also designate liaison representatives where committee standards activity indicates the need for representation.
  2. Liaison representatives designated by other major IEEE Boards.
  3. Such other liaison representatives as the IEEE SA Standards Board may authorize.

The responsibilities of the liaison representatives are given in the IEEE SA Standards Board Operations Manual.

5.1.2.2 Tenure

Members of the IEEE SA Standards Board may serve up to three consecutive one-year terms, except that chairs of standing committees or members of the Administrative Committee may be appointed to additional terms to provide experience and continuity.

5.1.3 IEEE Standards meetings

Policies concerning IEEE standards development meetings shall be specified in subclause 5.3 of the IEEE SA Standards Board Operations Manual. This subclause contains special considerations for annual financial reporting and quarterly entry of financial transactions; expenses for the IEEE of more than US $25,000; and for income or expenses for the IEEE that cumulatively exceed US $250,000 per year. No change in these monetary figures may be made in the IEEE SA Standards Board Operations Manual without the prior approval of the IEEE SA BOG.

All Standards Committees shall ensure the annual certification of detailed financial activity via the IEEE SA online financial reporting tool. This financial information shall include the operation of the Standards Committee and all of its standards development subgroups (e.g., working groups, task groups) and is due by 15 February of each year for the previous fiscal year’s activity. In addition, quarterly entry of financial transactions shall be completed in the online financial reporting tool within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (March, June, September, and December) and shall be considered delinquent if not submitted by that time.

All Standards Committees with actual income or expenses for the IEEE of US $250,000 or more per year shall be audited by a fully qualified, independent professional auditor. The Standards Committee may select an outside accounting firm, another fully qualified resource, or the IEEE Internal Audit Department to arrange for and perform the audit. The selection of such auditors should avoid any conflict of interest with members of the relevant Standards Committees. Audit fees, as determined by the outside accounting firm or the IEEE Internal Audit Department shall be budgeted by all Standards Committees requiring an audit. If the IEEE Internal Audit Department is selected to provide the auditing service, all required documentation is due no later than 15 March. If prepared by an independent auditor, the contract/MOU for their services is due to the IEEE Internal Audit Department by 15 March; the final and complete audit report shall be submitted to the IEEE Internal Audit Department by 30 April.

5.2 Awards and Recognition Committee (ArCom)

This committee is responsible for administering the IEEE SA awards program. Awards in this program include: IEEE SA level awards, IEEE SA Standards Board level awards, and other standards-related awards. It shall act on behalf of the IEEE SA BOG to receive nominations and recommend candidates for IEEE SA BOG approval, as appropriate, for IEEE standards awards. It shall submit nominations for standards awards sponsored by other organizations.

The nomination period for IEEE SA awards (exclusive of the Working Group awards and the IEEE Charles Proteus Steinmetz Award) shall be 1 February to 31 July of each calendar year. If necessary, an extension (no later than 31 August) may be granted at the discretion of ArCom.

This committee shall be comprised of five members, including a chair. Two of the committee members shall be voting members of the IEEE SA Standards Board, two of the members shall be members of the IEEE SA BOG, and one member shall be a member of IEEE SA. The chair and the other members shall be appointed for a term of one year by the IEEE SA President. The chair shall serve as the IEEE SA representative on the IEEE Awards Board.

5.2.1 IEEE SA sponsored awards

5.2.1.1 IEEE SA Corporate Award

This award may be presented annually to an IEEE SA member organization for providing outstanding leadership and contributions to the IEEE SA. Consideration shall be given to those nominees who have worked to achieve the IEEE Standards Association vision and mission.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.2 IEEE SA International Award

This award may be presented annually to an IEEE SA individual member (who is also an IEEE member) who has made an extraordinary contribution to establishing the IEEE SA as a world-class leader in standardization.

Achieving acceptance of an IEEE SA standard for worldwide implementation, harmonizing an IEEE SA standard with international market requirements, and interacting with national and international bodies to enhance their understanding of the breadth and strength of the IEEE SA standards program are examples of promoting the goals of this award.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.3 IEEE SA Emerging Technology Award

This award may be presented annually to an individual, working group, or company that has initiated or advanced a new technology within the IEEE SA standards development process and has produced a balloted standards document (e.g., standard, recommended practice, or guide) that has market relevance. It is not necessary for the final document to be approved, but substantial progress beyond the PAR is necessary.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.4 IEEE SA Lifetime Achievement Award

This award may be presented annually to an individual whose achievements include:

  1. Significant technical contributions to, and an extraordinary career in, their field of interest;
  2. Outstanding service to the IEEE SA, enabling achievement of its objectives; and
  3. Demonstrated commitment to standards development of at least 15 years.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.5 IEEE SA Standards Medallion

This is an award for major contributions to the development of standards. Recipients need not be members of the IEEE, and their contributions may be to standards of other national and international standardizing bodies, provided such standards are in the IEEE fields of interest and constitute a significant contribution to the profession.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.6 IEEE SA Standards Committee Award for Outstanding Contributions to Entity Standards Development

This award may be presented annually to Standards Committees that have shown exceptional support of the entity standards development process. Candidates for this award are determined by ArCom and approved by the IEEE SA BOG.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.1.7 IEEE SA Conformity Assessment Award

This award may be presented annually to an individual or entity to recognize major contributions to the development and promotion of IEEE standards products through conformity assessment activities.

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.2 IEEE SA Standards Board sponsored awards
5.2.2.1 Distinguished Service Award

This award is given to present and past members of the IEEE SA Standards Board for meritorious and distinguished service to the IEEE SA Standards Board and its programs. ArCom develops a list of nominees and conducts a ballot within the committee to determine the recipient(s).

Further information on the award, including eligibility and the nominations process, is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.2.2 IEEE SA Standards Board Working Group Chair Award

This award may be presented, at the discretion of the Working Group Chair, to the officers of the working group and to technical editors, in recognition of a significant contribution to the development of the approved IEEE standard. For standards developed jointly with other organizations, this award may also be presented to the Working Group Chair, to the officers of the working group, and to the technical editors of the standard.

Processing of a request for awards shall occur after IEEE SA Standards Board approval of the standard has been received.

Further information on the award is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.2.2.1 IEEE SA Standards Board Working Group Certificate of Appreciation

This certificate may be presented, at the discretion of the Working Group Chair, to working group participants, in recognition of an important contribution to the development of the approved IEEE standard.

Processing of a request for certificates shall occur after IEEE SA Standards Board approval of the standard has been received.

Further information is provided at the IEEE Standards website.

5.2.3 Other standards-related awards
5.2.3.1 IEEE Charles Proteus Steinmetz Award

This award was established by the IEEE Board of Directors in 1979. As discussed in IEEE Policy 4.8, it is administered by the IEEE Awards Board through its Technical Field Awards Council. It may be presented annually to an individual only “for exceptional contributions to the development and/or advancement of standards in electrical and electronics engineering.”

Further information on the nominations process is given at the IEEE Standards website.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the Staff Secretary, IEEE Awards Board, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

5.3 Entity Collaborative Activities Governance Board (CAG)

The IEEE SA CAG is a standing committee of the IEEE Standards Association reporting to the IEEE SA BOG. The CAG shall be responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of entity engagement in IEEE SA activities, including but not limited to, entity strategy, managing the IEEE SA Industry Connections Committee as well as managing or interfacing with other entity-related programs within IEEE SA, guiding market development activities related to entity members, and sustaining, retaining and growing IEEE SA entity membership and their engagement.

The CAG shall also be responsible for procuring entity input concerning the IEEE standards process and strategic direction and for recommending appropriate action to the IEEE SA BOG. The CAG may also serve as an IEEE SA Standards Committee (as defined in clause 5.2.2 of the IEEE SA Standards Board Bylaws). If the CAG chooses to serve in this capacity, any of its activities as a Standards Committee shall be under the jurisdiction of the IEEE SA Standards Board and subject to its rules of standards development. The CAG Chair shall report to the IEEE SA BOG at least annually on the activities of the group.

This group shall be comprised of a minimum of 11 up to a maximum of 15 voting members. This total includes the CAG Chair, elected members, appointed members, and the Strategic Outreach position member. All members shall serve two-year terms with the exception of the Strategic Outreach position. The chair of the CAG shall be a member of the IEEE SA BOG, shall represent an entity in the IEEE Standards Association (see 6.1), shall be appointed by the IEEE SA BOG, shall be an IEEE SA Member, an IEEE Member, Senior Member, or Fellow, and shall have previously served as a member of the CAG. The chair of the CAG may serve an unlimited number of terms but not more than three terms consecutively. The Nominations and Appointments Committee shall propose nominee(s) for the chair of the CAG. The IEEE SA President may appoint up to two members, serving in alternating two-year terms, who should be either present or past members of the IEEE SA BOG and shall represent entities in the IEEE Standards Association. The IEEE SA Standards Board Chair may appoint one member of the IEEE SA Standards Board or its committees, who shall represent an entity in the IEEE Standards Association, to be a member of this group. There may be two members on the CAG, serving in alternating two-year terms, who are appointed by the chair of the CAG and shall represent entities in the IEEE Standards Association.

There may be one member of the CAG whose position represents broadening strategic global participation (“Strategic Outreach position”). The member in this position shall be a current employee of an entity member in the IEEE Standards Association. The member in this position shall be appointed to a one-year term by the BOG, which shall receive recommendations from the CAG.

The eligible entities in the IEEE Standards Association shall elect up to eight members-at-large of this group, up to four each year. These members-at-large should represent a breadth of key industry interests of the IEEE Standards Association. The Nominations and Appointments Committee shall propose nominees for each vacancy in an eligible member-at-large position. Those positions shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the eligible entities of the IEEE Standards Association.

The CAG shall appoint a Vice-Chair from among its voting members for a term of one year. This appointment shall be made by the CAG at its first meeting of the year. If the Vice-Chair is unable to complete the one-year term, the chair of the CAG shall appoint an alternate voting member of the CAG to complete the unfinished term. The chair of the CAG may appoint a nonvoting individual to the group to serve as secretary.

Members serving in any CAG positions are eligible for re-election or reappointment. Members serving in the Strategic Outreach position may be appointed up to two consecutive terms. If the member serving in this position is interested in continued CAG participation, he or she can be recommended for any position other than the Strategic Outreach position.

5.3.1 CAG agenda

A preliminary agenda for each CAG meeting shall be prepared by the Secretary of the CAG or a designated person and distributed to CAG members at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting of the CAG. At the same time the agenda, without supporting documentation, shall be sent to all members of the IEEE SA BOG.

5.3.2 Vacancies

If the CAG chair is unable to complete his or her term of office, the IEEE SA President shall have the discretion of deciding whether to hold a special appointment process of the IEEE SA BOG or to appoint a person to serve out the term. If a person in an appointed position on the CAG is unable to complete his or her term of office, the appointer shall fill the position. If a CAG member-at-large is unable to complete his or her term of office, the CAG chair shall have the discretion of deciding whether to hold a special election of the eligible entities in the IEEE Standards Association or to appoint a person to serve out the term.

Any replacement appointment shall be ratified by the IEEE SA Board of Governors.

5.3.3 Change in entity affiliation

If a CAG member’s entity affiliation changes, he or she shall be subject to re-election or re-appointment. If the position is an appointed position, the appointer shall determine if the re-appointment is acceptable. If the position is an elected position, the CAG chair shall have the discretion of deciding whether to hold a special election of the entity members in the IEEE Standards Association or to appoint a person to serve out the term.

If the CAG chair’s entity affiliation changes, the IEEE SA President shall have the discretion of deciding whether to hold a special appointment process of the IEEE SA BOG or to re-appoint the CAG chair to serve out the term.

If a CAG member’s affiliation changes to that of an IEEE SA entity member not already represented on the CAG, eligibility to remain on the CAG for the remainder of the CAG member’s term is automatic.

If a CAG member’s affiliation changes to an entity that is not a current IEEE SA entity member, that entity is expected to become an IEEE SA entity member. If such IEEE SA entity membership is not attained within three months after the CAG member’s change of affiliation, the CAG member is subject to removal from the CAG at the discretion of the CAG Chair.

If a CAG member’s affiliation changes to self, eligibility to remain on the CAG is at the discretion of the CAG Chair. Such a member shall be an IEEE SA individual member in order to maintain their position on the CAG.

In instances where it is impractical for the CAG Chair to render a decision, the CAG Vice-Chair shall make a ruling.

Any removal from the CAG and the resulting replacement appointment shall be ratified by the IEEE SA Board of Governors.

If a nominee for a CAG elected position has his or her entity affiliation change during the election process, or if public disclosure of an intention to change affiliation of an entity is made, the entity members of the IEEE Standards Association shall be informed of the change in affiliation.

CAG members and nominees for CAG positions have a duty to disclose a change of affiliation to the IEEE SA as soon as it can be made public.

The IEEE SA does not allow multiple CAG members with the same entity affiliation to serve concurrently.

5.4 Nominations and Appointments Committee

This committee shall submit lists of candidates to the IEEE SA BOG for

  • The office of IEEE SA President-Elect as stated in IEEE Bylaw I-303.6
  • The eligible member-at-large positions on the IEEE SA BOG
  • The IEEE SA Standards Board Chair
  • The members of the IEEE SA Standards Board
  • The IEEE SA CAG Chair
  • The eligible member-at-large positions on the IEEE SA CAG
  • With the advice of the IEEE SA President and the IEEE SA Standards Board Chair, the members of the Nominations and Appointments Committee for the following year

Members of the IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee shall not be eligible for positions for which the IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee is responsible for making nominations. This committee shall be comprised of five voting members and additional nonvoting experts selected by the Nominations and Appointments Committee Chair, who shall be

  • The chair, who shall be the past President of the IEEE SA, the past past President of the IEEE SA, or the President Elect of the IEEE SA. In the event of the unavailability or conflict of interest of the past President, the past past President shall be the chair of the Nominations and Appointments Committee. In the event of the unavailability or conflict of interest of the past past President, the President Elect shall be the chair of the Nominations and Appointments Committee. As stated in IEEE Bylaw I-307, the chair of the Nominations and Appointments Committee shall not be eligible to be elected to the IEEE Board of Directors during his or her term of service.
  • One current or past member of the IEEE SA Standards Board, appointed by the BOG
  • Two current or past members of the IEEE SA BOG, appointed by the BOG
  • One current IEEE SA entity member representative, appointed by the BOG

Vacancies on the IEEE SA Nominations and Appointments Committee may, at the discretion of the IEEE SA President, be filled either by appointment by the IEEE SA President or by nomination by the IEEE SA Nominations and Appointments Committee and appointment by the IEEE SA BOG.

5.4.1 Nominations and appointments guidelines

Consistent with IEEE Policy 9.8, the Nominations and Appointments Committee will solicit nominations from IEEE Societies and councils, government, industry, and academia to determine candidates for IEEE SA President-Elect and to develop slates of members-at-large candidates for the IEEE SA BOG. General qualifications for these positions are given in 4.2.1.

Any candidate for election or appointment to any position under the purview of the Nominations and Appointments Committee shall disclose to the Nominations and Appointments Committee

  • Any other offices he/she holds within the IEEE
  • Any role he/she has outside the IEEE that places him/her in a position of doing business with the IEEE
  • Any other possible source of conflict of interest
5.4.2 Appointment process for the IEEE SA Standards Board

The Nominations and Appointments Committee shall develop a slate of candidates for Chair of the IEEE SA Standards Board and for the members of the IEEE SA Standards Board. In selecting nominees, due consideration shall be given to the degree of interest and standards activities within the various IEEE Societies, interests of government regulatory bodies and industry, and requirements for balance.

The IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee shall formally solicit candidates for both members of the IEEE SA Standards Board and for the IEEE SA Standards Board Chair from 1 March to 1 June of the appointment year. The IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee shall finalize the proposed slate for action by the IEEE SA BOG at the scheduled final IEEE SA BOG meeting of the year.

5.4.3 Election/appointment process for the IEEE SA CAG

The IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee shall formally solicit candidates for both members of the IEEE SA CAG and for the IEEE SA CAG Chair from 1 February to 1 May of the election/appointment year. The IEEE SA BOG Nominations and Appointments Committee shall finalize the proposed slate for action by the IEEE SA BOG at its second scheduled meeting of the year.

At the second scheduled IEEE SA BOG meeting of the year, the IEEE SA BOG shall appoint the IEEE SA CAG Chair for the following term. The IEEE SA entity membership elects the members-at-large of the IEEE SA CAG according to the procedure in 5.3.

5.4.4 Electioneering

Electioneering activities that provide information to IEEE SA voting members on all candidates and issues in an IEEE SA election are encouraged. All IEEE SA members eligible to vote in a particular election should be informed of the views of all candidates for that election; equal opportunity to express views shall be provided to all candidates for the same elective position. Election campaign activities shall be conducted in accordance with IEEE Policy 13.3.

IEEE SA email lists, newsletters, and reflectors shall not be used to send out messages related to the support or nonsupport of candidates for election (including elections at the IEEE level and outside of the IEEE). See IEEE Policies 13.3, 13.4, and 14.1 for further information.

5.5 [Placeholder]

This committee shall report to the Financial Sustainability SMDC and shall provide the budgetary oversight for the IEEE SA. It shall report its information to, and seek approvals from, the IEEE SA BOG through the Financial Sustainability SMDC.

This committee shall be comprised of four members, the IEEE SA President; the IEEE SA President-Elect or the most recent IEEE SA Past President willing to serve; the IEEE SA Treasurer, who shall be appointed by the IEEE SA President; and the Managing Director, IEEE Standards Activities, who shall serve as an ex-officio member without vote.

The IEEE SA Treasurer, who shall serve a two-year term, shall be a member of the IEEE SA and of IEEE Member, Senior Member, or Fellow grade. The IEEE SA Treasurer may serve an unlimited number of terms but not more than three terms consecutively.

The IEEE SA is intended to be operated on an expense-neutral basis to the IEEE. It shall be financed by the revenue from the sale of documents, royalties from intellectual property, contracts, fundraising, and participatory fees for standards-related products and services. Fees for services shall be subject to periodic adjustment.

5.6 Strategic Planning Coordination Committee (SPCC)

This committee shall

  • Identify and evaluate matters of a strategic nature
  • Report to the BOG the status of the strategic plan and other strategic issues
  • Monitor the execution of the strategic plan
  • Recommend revisions to the strategic plan
  • Provide oversight of the preparation of IEEE SA position statements prior to BOG approval
  • Ensure strong partnership between volunteers and professional staff
  • Invite participation by subject matter experts as needed to address topics of interest

This committee shall consist of the IEEE SA President (BOG Chair) who will serve as Conveyor, the IEEE SA Past President/IEEE SA President Elect, the CAG Chair, the SASB Chair, and the IEEE SA Managing Director; and will be supported by a staff liaison.

BOG members who are not part of the SPCC may attend SPCC meetings as observers.

5.6.1 Strategic Planning Coordination Committee agenda

A preliminary agenda for each Strategic Planning Coordination Committee meeting shall be prepared and made available to Committee members and to the BOG prior to the start of the meeting.

The agenda preparation should be a joint task between the IEEE SA President and the IEEE SA Managing Director, which includes the general coordination of the meetings. The general preparation and coordination should be done by staff under the Managing Director’s responsibility.

The meeting structure and discussion in the meetings should be facilitated by the IEEE SA President. It is also not required that the SPCC meetings align with existing IEEE SA or IEEE Board meetings.

The IEEE SA President will function as the Conveyor of the SPCC, where they will serve as the link to the BOG, regarding both input (e.g., strategic questions posed at BOG level first) and output (recommendations from SPCC to be communicated to BOG). The Conveyor would receive appropriate staff liaison support.

5.7 Registration Authority Committee (RAC)

The IEEE Registration Authority Committee (RAC) shall provide oversight of all registration activities defined or referenced in IEEE standards. The RAC shall report to the Products and Services Innovation SMDC. Such registration activities include, but are not necessarily limited to, assignment of unique numbers or identifiers used by implementers of the standard, or listings of products or services defined by the standard. This committee is responsible for both the registry process and the registration-activity-related technical content of standards using a RAC administered activity.

This committee performs its registration authority function for approved (or proposed) IEEE standards or non-IEEE standards relevant to IEEE interests. The IEEE RAC also recommends new registries to the IEEE SA BOG.

Each IEEE standard that contains a registration activity shall have such registration activity presented to the IEEE RAC for consideration as a RAC administered registry. The IEEE maintains the right of first refusal to be the registration authority for all registries described in an IEEE Standard.

This committee shall be comprised of representatives of Standards Committees interested in registration. The RAC may have up to 21 members. The IEEE SA President shall appoint the chair of the RAC for a three-year term, renewable at the discretion of the IEEE SA President. The chair shall be a member of IEEE SA and of IEEE Member, Senior Member, or Fellow grade.

This committee shall have two members without vote, the RAC Secretary (IEEE Staff) and the chair of the Standards Activities Board of the IEEE Computer Society (or designee). The RAC Chair may appoint additional technical experts to serve as non-voting members of the RAC. The IEEE SA BOG shall oversee this committee through its minutes and agendas.

5.7.1 RAC agenda

A preliminary agenda for each RAC meeting shall be prepared by the IEEE Standards Department staff (the IEEE OUI Registration Authority Administrator or a designated person) and distributed to RAC members at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting of the RAC. At the same time, the agenda, without supporting documentation, shall be sent to all members of the IEEE SA BOG.

5.8 Strategic Management and Delivery Committees

Strategic Management and Delivery Committees (SMDCs) are standing committees of the IEEE SA and are established by these procedures or by the IEEE SA Board of Governors (BOG) to address strategic focus areas that are necessary and critical for the IEEE SA to achieve long-term organizational objectives.

The BOG shall periodically review all SMDC charters and activities to ensure that they are in alignment with the current strategic direction of the IEEE SA.

At any time, the BOG may create a new SMDC, modify the charter of an SMDC, combine the operations of SMDCs, or disband an SMDC.

There is no minimum nor maximum number of SMDCs.

5.8.1 SMDC membership

The title of the chair of each SMDC shall be IEEE SA Vice President. IEEE SA Vice Presidents shall be of Member or higher grade of IEEE and shall be individual members of the IEEE SA.

The IEEE SA President may appoint an individual to serve as an IEEE SA Vice President if the individual is a sitting BOG Member, Past IEEE SA President, Past IEEE SA Standards Board (SASB) Chair, Past IEEE SA CAG Chair, or Past IEEE SA Treasurer.

The IEEE SA Nomination and Appointments Committee or the IEEE SA President may propose individuals other than the ones listed above to serve as an IEEE SA Vice President if they have exceptional experience that falls within the charter of the particular SMDC. Such individuals must be willing to meet the IEEE and IEEE SA membership requirements for IEEE SA Vice Presidents. The appointment of such individuals shall be confirmed by the BOG.

An individual may serve as an IEEE SA Vice President for up to six consecutive years. Sitting BOG Members with one or more years remaining in their term may be appointed to a two-year term as an IEEE SA Vice President. All other individuals appointed as an IEEE SA Vice President shall serve a one-year term.

Additional members of each SMDC shall be appointed by the IEEE SA President for a one-year term. SMDC members shall be of Member or higher grade of IEEE and shall be individual members of the IEEE SA. SMDC members may serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms. The number of members in each SMDC shall be proportional to the workload of the SMDC. Candidates for membership in an SMDC may be proposed by that SMDC’s chair or by the IEEE SA Nominations and Appointments Committee.

It is expected that all sitting BOG Members will serve as an IEEE SA Vice President or as a member of at least one SMDC.

Each IEEE SA Vice President who is not a sitting BOG Member shall be an ex officio member of the BOG without vote.

Each SMDC may select a Vice Chair from among its members.

5.8.2 Operations, reporting, and documentation

Each SMDC shall meet as often as necessary to accomplish its goals and objectives in a timely manner.

An SMDC may have committee(s) of the BOG organized under it at the discretion of the BOG or as designated in its charter. With the concurrence of the SMDC’s chair, an SMDC may have an ad hoc committee(s) of the BOG organized under it at the discretion of the IEEE SA President or as designated in the ad hoc’s charter.

In addition, each IEEE SA Vice President may create subgroups (e.g., task forces, ad hocs) to assist their SMDC. Should an IEEE SA Vice President wish to appoint a volunteer who is neither a BOG Member nor a member of that SMDC as a chair or member of a subgroup, approval of the IEEE SA President shall be obtained.

An IEEE SA Vice President shall be an ex officio member without voting rights in all committees, ad hoc committees, and subgroups organized under their SMDC for which they are not explicitly assigned as a member with voting rights.

Each SMDC shall have IEEE Professional Staff participation and support as assigned by the IEEE SA Managing Director. Each SMDC shall operate as a partnership between volunteer and Professional Staff leadership. The Professional Staff lead for each SMDC shall be considered a Co-Chair in partnership with the IEEE SA Vice President who chairs that SMDC. Professional Staff participants in an SMDC do not hold voting rights.

SMDCs may be of a dual strategic and operational nature and shall:

  • Propose, develop, refine, and monitor strategic and operational objectives and initiatives
  • Coordinate efforts among volunteers and staff in implementing, reviewing, and recommending adjustments to initiatives and activities
  • Review and consider new ideas that are within their scope

SMDCs shall provide periodic reports to the BOG. Each SMDC shall be prepared to provide an update at every scheduled BOG meeting, although a report may not be requested at every BOG meeting. SMDC documentation (e.g., meeting agendas and minutes) shall be stored in a private web area that is accessible to all sitting BOG Members.

5.8.3 SMDCs chartered by these procedures

The following SMDCs are established by these procedures:

  • The Standards and Standards Innovations (S&SI) SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for maintaining a vibrant consensus standards development environment within the IEEE SA that meets the needs of its membership. Through the development of online educational materials and the fostering of strategic and emerging technology areas, the S&SI SMDC seeks to increase global engagement within IEEE standards development, improve the quality of the standards development experience, increase productivity, and facilitate launching, mentoring, and managing new, strategic, or emerging standards development projects.
  • The Strategic Finance SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for the IEEE SA budget and for ensuring IEEE SA long-term financial sustainability, financial transparency, and appropriate management of the financial portfolio. It creates tools to aid the business and investment plans for IEEE SA projects. The IEEE SA is intended to be operated on an expense-neutral basis to IEEE. It shall be financed by the revenue from the sale of documents, royalties from intellectual property, contracts, fundraising, and participatory fees for standards-related products and services. Fees for services shall be subject to periodic adjustment.
  • The Products and Services Innovation SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for creating, growing, and managing IEEE SA’s product and services portfolio, with an emphasis on products and services that complement IEEE SA’s core consensus businesses.
  • The IEEE Technical Innovation and Engagement SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for driving IEEE SA’s strategic interests through interaction and collaboration with other operational units within IEEE.
  • The Market Incubation and Business Acceleration SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for cultivating the growth of a single or of a few strategically important businesses through focused dedication of resources.
  • The Standards Market and Business Development SMDC — This SMDC is responsible for strategic marketing and exploration of new opportunities. It shall collaborate with the IEEE SA CAG in regards to entity-related innovation, with IEEE SA Open, and with the Market Incubation and Business Acceleration SMDC.

Detailed processes and procedures for each SMDC as well as the structure of boards and committees reporting to that SMDC are given in this operations manual and in each SMDC’s operations manual.

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Footnotes:

[1] Note that not all committee operations are detailed in this clause.

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