Page History
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Background
The Third Accountability and Transparency Review (ATRT3) Recommendation 3.6 calls for Organizational Reviews to be evolved into a Continuous Improvement Program (CIP). The Board directed ICANN org to initiate the development of a project plan to implement a pilot Continuous Improvement Program to ensure it yields the outcomes intended by the ATRT3 before a Bylaws amendment is completed.
Organizational Reviews assess the effectiveness of ICANN’s Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs). Organizational Reviews
Footnote Currently, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) is not included in Organizational Reviews.
are conducted by Independent Examiners to assess: (i) whether that organization, council, or committee has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure; (ii) if so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve its effectiveness; (iii) whether that organization, council, or committee is accountable to its constituencies, stakeholder groups, organizations, and other stakeholders
Footnote From the ICANN Bylaws.
. ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6 calls for Organizational Reviews to be evolved into a Continuous Improvement Program in each Supporting Organization (SO), Advisory Committee (AC), and Nominating Committee (NomCom).
Footnotes Display |
---|
Challenge
There are community-perceived shortcomings of Organizational Reviews, which led to the development of ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6. The perceived shortcomings include the understanding and competence of the Independent Examiners that have conducted Organizational Reviews and produced recommendations. The quality of the Independent Examiner recommendations has been debated by the community, and the volume of recommendations has led to a current backlog to implement a number of recommendations.
In most cases, Independent Examiners have stayed away from determining if the organization has a continuing purpose and whether organizational structure should be changed. So most recommendations that were issued by Independent Examiners were intended to improve effectiveness of operations and accountability.
ICANN org previously received broad support from the community to defer the next scheduled Organizational Reviews, considering the need to plan for changes to the Organizational Review processes including implementation of the CIP. Accordingly, the ICANN Board took action in June 2022 to defer the next cycle of Organizational Reviews. The Board will consider the progress made toward evolving Organizational Reviews by June 2025.
Solution
The intent of ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6 to replace Organizational Reviews with a Continuous Improvement Program will hold the SO/AC/NomCom accountable to their stakeholders and focused on making meaningful changes to improve their structures. In FY24, the ICANN community faces competing priorities and a significant workload. Therefore, one of the goals for the CIP is to accomplish the objectives of the Organizational Reviews without undertaking the volume of work required in the past. Further, the recommendation to create a Continuous Improvement Program states that ICANN org shall work with each SO/AC/NomCom to establish a Continuous Improvement Program. It will include an annual satisfaction survey of members/participants, and a regular assessment once the CIP Framework is developed.
ICANN org proposes the formation of a Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) to convene in January 2024, with the goal of developing a framework for implementation of ATRT3 Rec. 3.6. ICANN org anticipates that the representatives in the CIP-CCG will share best practices and collaborate on community-wide implementation of ATRT3 Rec. 3.6, while relaying information back to their constituencies to inform the process and voice decisions. Specifically, the CIP-CCG will:
Develop a shared understanding of the meaning of Continuous Improvement in the context of ATRT3 recommendation 3.6,
Consider a range of methodologies for effective continuous improvement programs,
Agree on the methodology that is fit for ICANN purpose, and
Formulate a CIP Framework, to be used by each SO, AC, and NomCom.
CIP-CCG membership and mailing list
PROJECT UPDATES
Progress
- March 2024 CIP-CCG meeting during ICANN79
- January 2024 Formation of the CIP-CCG
- December 2023 Appointment of community representatives and alternates to the CIP-CCG
- October 2023 ICANN78 Prep Week webinar on Reviews Program, Annual General Meeting (AGM), and ccNSO Guidelines and Review Committee (GRC) Open Space Session
- October 2023 ICANN.org blog, ICANN Reviews Program Update and Interim President and CEO Goal 11
- September 2023 SO/AC Roundtable
Next Steps
The initial development phase, CIP Framework Development, is estimated to take up to 12 months, beginning after ICANN78 and concluding by December 2024. The first Continuous Improvement Program assessment period is estimated to begin at the end of 2024 and conclude at the end of 2027 (a period of 3 years), and the second assessment period is estimated to begin in early 2028 and conclude at the end of 2030 (another 3 years).
WORK IN PROGRESS
- ICANN Continuous Improvement Program Makes Progress on a Draft Framework (28 March 2024).
- 5 CIP-CCG meetings completed (as of 26 March 2024), including 1 hybrid meeting during the ICANN79 Community Forum (6 March 2024).
- Mailing list and CIP-CCG meeting scheduling shared with all community volunteers in December 2023.
- Formation of CIP-CCG: See 13 October letter to SOAC Leadership including Stakeholder Groups and Constituencies, and the NomCom.
- 13 November ICANN Community Digest featuring information about the formation of the CIP-CCG.
- Research into Continuous Improvement Models and Frameworks.
- ccNSO GRC Open Space Session during ICANN78.
Resources
- ICANN Continuous Improvement Program Makes Progress on a Draft Framework (28 March 2024).
- Listen to the ICANN 79 - ICANN Reviews Updates delivered during prep week on 22 February 2024ICANN Launches the Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group. Read the announcement here (8 January 2024).
- Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) Terms of Reference updated (February 2024).
- ICANN Launches the Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (8 January 2024).
- Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) Terms of Reference (January 2024), incorporating ccNSO feedback (December 2023) on draft Terms of Reference (October 2023). See ICANN org response to ccNSO feedback here.
- Board Resolution 30 Nov 2020 to implement ATRT3 Recommendations, including Recommendation 3.6 to Evolve Organizational Reviews into a Continuous Improvement Program.
- In its Final Report, the ATRT3 recommends that the Board and ICANN org:
- Continue with ATRT Reviews with a modified schedule and scope.
- Evolve the content of the Organizational Reviews into continuous improvement programs in each SO, AC, and Nominating Committee (NC).
- Add a Holistic Review, as a special Specific Review, which will look at all SOs, ACs, NC and their relations.
- Implement a new system for the timing and cadence of the reviews.