[NCUC-DISCUSS] ICANN's Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan

[David Cake]

A few comments to get discussion started:

ICANNs draft Vision statement says, among other things, that 'builds trust through serving the public interest,' yet ICANN resolutely refuses to define what 'the public interest' is within its processes, thus rendering its 'vision' voluntarily somewhat blind, or at least dim. 
I would suggest that we should point this out and suggest that it needs to have at least some idea of what it defines as the public interest to make this statement meaningful. Without a definition, any idea can be promoted as 'in the public interest' unless you can unequivocally prove that it is harmful.
As an example of why this issue isn't just talk about terminology, but actually matters - many of the commitments made in the Public Interest Commitments are, I would argue, not in the public interest at all. and just reflect lobbyist ideas about what is in the interest of their constituency - for example, some include the idea of protected famous trademark lists, an idea rejected by GNSO policy processes. But without any definition of what public interest is, or how it is determined, how can we reject these?

Focus Areas
- again, without an idea of what the public interest is, the idea of a public responsibility framework is confusing. The description of this focus area refers to the public interest, but again we have no definition that ICANN acknowledges. 
- nowhere in the focus areas is there mention of accountability. I think increasing accountability for ICANN is certainly a focus area for some of us in NCSG, and that sentiment is shared by some GNSO colleagues. I think pushing for a direct focus on accountability in the focus areas would be an excellent idea. 


Other than that, a bit buzzword heavy, but that is par for the course. I have no problem with the ICANN stock phrases like 'security, stability and resiliency'[1], but I found the use of the current tech industry phrase 'creative disruption' a bit grating, and I could have done without a quote from Jack Welch. We aren't editing the phrasing, but we there are a few points of substance I think. 

Cheers

David 

[1] though apparently Chris Disspain does - at the Aus IGF he said he thinks resiliency, at least in the abstract use of the term, is a US neologism and not real English! 

On 30 Oct 2013, at 4:50 pm, William Drake <william.drake at uzh.ch> wrote:

>>> 
>>> 
>>> https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/strategic-29oct13-en.htm
>>> https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/strategic-29oct13-en.htm
>>> 
>>> ICANN's Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan
>>> 
>>> Comment / Reply Periods (*)
>>> Comment Open Date: 29 October 2013
>>> Comment Close Date: 31 January 2014 - 23:59 UTC
>>> Important Information Links
>>> Public Comment Announcement
>>> To Submit Your Comments (Forum)
>>> View Comments Submitted
>>> Brief Overview
>>> Originating Organization: 
>>> Strategic Initiatives
>>> Categories/Tags: 
>>> Operating Plan
>>> Planning
>>> Strategic Planning
>>> Strategy
>>> Purpose (Brief): 
>>> In line with ICANN's commitment to the multi-stakeholder model, a working draft - ICANN's Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan [PDF, 313 KB] - is provided for community discussion and public comment. It proposes a new Vision, reiterates ICANN's existing Mission, and describes five proposed Focus Areas with goals. At this stage of development, ICANN is seeking general feedback, as well as input on measurable outcomes for Focus Area Goals. Your responses will help inform additional aspects that are not yet included, but will be elements of ICANN's final strategic and/or operating plans and budget.
>>> 
>>> Current Status: 
>>> Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan
>>> Next Steps: 
>>> Public comments are requested on the draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas to inform a proposed ICANN Vision & Five-Year Strategic Plan (scheduled for public comment from February to March 2014).
>>> Staff Contact: 
>>> Denise Michel
>>> Email Staff Contact
>>> Detailed Information
>>> Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose: 
>>> The Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan [PDF, 313 KB] is a working draft to support the creation of ICANN's Vision and Five-Year Strategic Plan. It has been written based on brainstorming that occurred April - September 2013 and reflects input from ICANN's Board of Directors, community and staff.
>>> 
>>> In line with ICANN's commitment to the multistakeholder model, this working draft is provided for community discussion and public comment. It proposes a new Vision, reiterates ICANN's existing Mission, and describes five proposed Focus Areas with goals. At this stage of development, ICANN is seeking general feedback, as well as input on measurable outcomes for these Focus Area Goals:
>>> 
>>> Overall –Does this draft appropriately outline ICANN's future? Are we missing a strategic element you see as critical for ICANN to address in the next five years?
>>> 
>>> Focus Area Goals –What specific outcomes or achievements should we target for each of the Focus Area Goals? What quantitative / qualitative elements should we consider in measuring progress / results for each Focus Area Goal?
>>> 
>>> Your responses will help inform additional aspects that are not yet included, but will be elements of ICANN's final strategic and/or operating plans and budget, including: prioritization, timing/staging over five years, critical success factors, outcomes, resources, and metrics and monitoring.
>>> 
>>> Your feedback and input is critical. For your convenience, we have created simple templates for you to use as you send us your thoughts on the overall Vision and Mission as well as the five Focus Area Goals. Simply click on the links below to access the templates.
>>> 
>>> All feedback and input will be carefully considered for the proposed ICANN Vision and Five-Year Strategic Plan that will be posted for public comment.
>>> 
>>> Section III: Document and Resource Links: 
>>> Read ICANN's Draft Vision, Mission & Focus Areas for a Five-Year Strategic Plan [PDF, 313 KB]
>>> 
>>> Tell us what you think:
>>> 
>>> Click here to comment on the Vision/Mission [DOCX, 35 KB]
>>> Click here to comment on I) Evolving ICANN's implementation of the multistakeholder approach [DOCX, 36 KB] for coordination
>>> Click here to comment on II) Developing a world-class public responsibility [DOCX, 36 KB] framework
>>> Click here to comment on III) Supporting a healthy unique identifier ecosystem [DOCX, 41 KB]
>>> Click here to comment on IV) Striving towards technical and operational excellence [DOCX, 36 KB]
>>> Click here to comment on V) Defining role clarity for ICANN in the Internet governance ecosystem [DOCX, 42 KB]
>>> Click here to provide general comments without using the templates
>>> Section IV: Additional Information: 
>>> A session on Strategic Planning will held at the ICANN Buenos Aires meeting on Monday, 18 November 2013 at 17:15-18:45 – see http://buenosaires48.icann.org/en/schedule/mon-strategic-planning for further details.
>>> 
>>> (*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.
>>> 
>>>  
> 
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