1. To refine the process for publishing ISB standards to improve clarity and facilitate planning for those engaged in implementation.

Transcription

1 ISB December 2013 [Paper C] Title: Proposal for ISB Standards Release Author: Bill McLennan Date: 26/11/2013 Issue 1. To refine the process for publishing ISB standards to improve clarity and facilitate planning for those engaged in implementation. Recommendations 2. The Board is recommended to approve the adoption of a revised Release Management approach which will: a. move to a fixed set of pre-determined publication release dates (optimally three per year) from current continuous publication mode b. cover content for both revision of existing standards (maintenance requests) and demand for new standards c. introduce an executive step into the ISB Management Process by which the ISB Chair (or nominated deputy) will provide clear direction on behalf of all stakeholders on what publication content is to be prioritised for each release d. provide earlier oversight to the Board on any prospective content that will pass through a specific approvals sitting of the Board which is intended to meet a specific release date. Page 1 of 5 Version: V0.60 Issue Date: 26/11/13

2 Background 3. We are seeing a number of consequences arising from projects such as Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) seeking to implement systems aligned to ISB standards. These projects are identifying gaps in ISB Standards that will need to be addressed. They also highlight the need to refine current standards and some aspects of operational process in the light of practical considerations identified in implementation This will lead to standards development priority calls feeding into the ISB management process in an appropriate, more timely and transparent manner. This paper suggests that the best way forward is to refine the existing process to fit a formalised Release Management approach based around fixed release dates. This Release Management approach has been discussed and positively received by DfE Education Data Division, JCQ and SIFA. Proposals Timing of the Releases? In order to accommodate recurring ESCS events (ie start of academic year, etc) and to align with proposals for a reduced number of ISB Board meetings, suggested fixed release dates should be defaulted to trimesters falling on April 15th, August 15th and December 15 th 2. NB In 2014 the pattern for April 2014 may be altered to cater for known requirements of the JCQ (A2C) Project. What constitutes a Release Date? This will be defined as a date, pre-determined by the Board, that a package of agreed standards content is required to be live and available on the ISB website. 1 ISB Secretariat and TSS to review the current publication suite with a view to streamlining the process for updating dependant documents 2 Exact dates might vary from year to year to take into account public holidays, etc, as the Board so directs Page 2 of 5 Version: V0.60 Issue Date: 26/11/13

3 What content will be included in a Fixed Release? Basically it is a trade-off between what content needs to be published at a point in time and what the ISB Secretariat and TSS have committed to deliver. Content will include a mix of maintenance and new standards, some arising from opportunities and gaps work. What constitutes a successful Fixed Release? A successfully implemented fixed release will a) accommodate the scale and complexity of content to be developed b) make best use of the development resources available 3 c) have appropriate stakeholder input to provide guidance on business meaning and content d) incorporate adequate time contingency to include activities of third parties 4 outside ISB Secretariat and TSS control in the physical delivery of the release eg by the DfE Website Team. e) provide an itemised audit of the publication content for a particular release f) demonstrate consistency (via version content and the complex relationships that exist) between all types of documents (eg Standards, ERD, BDS, TDS, Schema, etc) actually published on the ISB website. Key features of the overall process: a) ISB Board develop and agree high level annual delivery plan (as at present) b) The Board provide a more focused steer (at each Board sitting) on what the next (and possibly even the next plus one) release should contain. The chair to facilitate debate and provide impartial adjudication on aligning overall priority setting and trade-offs against what needs to be reprioritised for a specific release date c) ISB Secretariat and TSS provide estimated Release Package content 3 The ISB Secretariat TSS will ensure most efficient use of resource to meet demand. 4 Determination of activities by third parties which impact release dates (e.g. publication onto the DfE website) will be dealt with by appropriate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the third party agreed with the ISB Secretariat and TSS. Release dates assume SLAs will be met. Page 3 of 5 Version: V0.60 Issue Date: 26/11/13

4 based on latest Board steer and evaluation scope d) Following detailed analysis, TSS provide fine-tuned commitments for a specific release package e) TSS draft, and work with others to develop standards according to Board steer f) The Board gets a heads-up on what standards will appear in the approvals session of the next Board so that members can ensure they are appropriately briefed for that debate g) At the ISB Board members can approve standards (having consulted others in their organisations) and review recommendations for publication in the next release h) ISB Secretariat and TSS prepare a detailed release plan for publication taking into account direction (priorities) and outcomes arising from Board approvals. This will include: a. the fixed release date identified b. a cut-off date that included content must be developed by c. a date for final document synchronisation d. a date for passing package to DfE Web Team for website update Action required by ISB 5. To provide a steer on the recommendation and proposals contained in this paper. In particular, that the ISB agree to a fixed Release Management approach in order to provide clear direction on what content should be prioritised for each release. 6. That the ISB mandates the secretariat and TSS to develop Release Plans and processes to the appropriate levels to support any Fixed Release Schedule approved by the Board. 7. Consider how the Board can best support the proposed release schedule with specific reference to the approvals process, including the use of Board meetings and/ or correspondence. Page 4 of 5 Version: V0.60 Issue Date: 26/11/13

5 Crown copyright 2013 The Information Standards Board (ISB) is an advisory body to the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The information it produces is subject to Crown copyright, which is administered by the National Archives. The Crown copyright protected information in this document (other than ISB or Departmental logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium under the terms of the Open Government Licence, available from the National Archives website. Any reuse is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. It must be acknowledged as being protected by Crown copyright and the title of the source material must be supplied with the ISB named as the corporate author. Authorisation to reproduce any information which is identified as being the copyright of a third party must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned. Page 5 of 5 Version: V0.60 Issue Date: 26/11/13