Standardization Transparency - An Out of Body Experience.
Phillip H. Griffin · 2014
This paper examines the issue of transparency in standards setting organization processes used to select security techniques for standardization. Analysis of data collected from interviews, electronic mail, and other documen- tation is presented as a narrative in two case studies. A Kaleidoscope confer- ence case study illustrates the positive impacts of open participation on improv- ing transparency through the reduction of bias in the selection process. These impacts include more timely inputs from researchers on emerging technology issues, and greater diversity in the sources of creative new ideas and solutions considered for standardization. Restrictions imposed on the selection process by government control of national body activities are described through a second case study of practice in the United States. Finally, recommendations are pro- posed on actions standards setting organizations can take to broaden participa- tion in the selection of techniques for standardization and to strengthen commu- nications between standards developers and the research community.