At the European Telework Development Initiative website
ACTS Telework Chain (GAT: General Access - Telework)
Status Report and Comments from the ACTS Telework Chain (GAT) for the
GA Chains Group Meeting 23rd October 1996
People, Addresses
The GAT Chair is Paul Devoldere, 100135.2704@compuserve.com.
On 4th November Paul expects to hand over to Noel Hodson, 100143.2571@compuserve.com.
The GAT Secretariat is provided by the ETD Project - European Telework Online,
Christian Van Asbroeck, 100413.2641@compuserve.com
The Chain now has its own www pages at http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/
Activities
The GAT (General Access - Telework) Chain held three meetings prior to and
including 27 June 1996 but a majority of the time was consumed by discussion
of process for the chain and debate about the Commission's intention regarding
Guidelines and the priority of "Guidelines" relative to other
pressing priorities. A long list of potential topics for Guidelines was
produced and one project offered to produce all-encompassing Telework Best
Practice Guidelines for Employers, but there was some discomfort about this
as an appropriate GAT main activity, especially as the topics for the proposed
Guideline contained little about technologies and applications, and given
the wealth of existing books etc addressing the general field of telework.
As of 4th September 1996 the Commission provided fresh
guidance relating to the work of the Chain and to Guidelines (http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/guides/guide1.htm),
and this has enabled the Chain to make much better progress. New projects
joined at the 27 June meeting, and have started contributing to Chain work
although no contracts have been issued and no Commission payment contributions
received as at 23 October. We welcome the further
inputs from Commission staffs in connection with the 23rd October meeting
(http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/agendas/note0410.htm).
Current status
Based on the Commission's new guidance on Guidelines, a Chain
workplan has been produced (http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/guides/wplan01.htm),
with a proposed GAT
Template for draft guidelines (http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/guides/templ1.htm).
The ETD project has produced an initial draft Guideline, Telework:
Interoperability Guidelines (http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/guides/gat-g1.htm),
which does not in any sense match up to the "short and concise"
expectations set out in more recent input received from the Commission,
but which can we hope provide a sound basis for review and consensus forming
with a view to narrowing in on something more pointed and concise.
Discussions are in hand with two other projects with a view to them assuming
ownership and editorial responsibilities regarding two further Guidelines,
aiming to have three different topics in play, designed to attract attention
and provide value to the three main constituencies of interest addressed
by the Telework Chain (see Workplan).
The Workplan, Template, Draft Guideline and other Chain papers etc can be
seen at the website, which will also provide the medium for expressing comments
on drafts and moving towards consensus. An email
list is available (http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/info.htm)
for anyone wishing to receive notices about new developments in the work
of the Telework Chain.
Issues
The Chain's work has been hampered by uncertainties regarding the Commission's
intentions for Guidelines and we now need very urgently response (positive
or negative but especially directional) to all new materials produced by
the Chain in this respect, as well as full visibility of all Guidelines
materials and plans from all other Chains. The network of chains cannot
be expected to produce appropriate work products bottom up and to avoid
wasted or duplicated effort without a focused and sustained effort to enhance
communications. A swift check of the InfoWin site suggests that after an
initial effort to place information there and an update in mid 1996 the
site has become static - we believe it will need pressure from the Commission
to make sure the site is properly used for Chain materials. GAT feels we
will get further faster by using our own sites and linking from the InfoWin
site.
We are also hampered by uncertainties about the Concertation programme -
the Chain set its agenda a year ahead but gets notices about important conflicting
activities as little as two weeks ahead. The whole Concertation calendar
needs to be online at one place so that all Chains and the Commission can
see what is planned and provide much earlier notice of key activities. The
present Calendar at the InfoWin site is again a static page, what is needed
is a simple mailto: form that anyone can use to post the basic information
about meetings as soon as its known. The present mechanism of using emails
on a cascade basis is ineffectual. However these improvements can be brought
about by action on the part of InfoWin, it needs effort by all Chains to
pool the information and will undoubtedly need chivvying by Commission staffs
to ensure it happens.
ACTS Telework Chain Index Page
European Telework Development Initiative -
Home Page
Page address http://www.eto.org.uk/gat/agendas/stat2310.htm
Last updated 23 October 1996