I like the new model for IEEE-SA corporate membership. I like it so much that I was one of the first to sign up, enrolling Synopsys for an advanced membership. As an advanced member, Synopsys employees can participate in an unlimited number of corporate (entity-based) standards projects without paying additional project fees. We’re saving money, our budgeting is simpler, and our engineers no longer have to justify the project fees to their managers.

Articles about the new model can be found on EETimes, Urgent Communications, and Gabe on EDA. The articles describe the model, explain why the change was made, and highlight the benefits of the entity-based standards process. What you won’t read about in these articles is the effort that went into developing, proposing, and obtaining approval for the new membership model.

When the IEEE Standards Association’s governing committees have a problem to solve or a project to undertake, they create task forces to do the work. Called “ad hoc committees”, the task forces are comprised of volunteers who serve on the governance committees and IEEE-SA staff members to support them. The ad hoc committees develop solutions or tackle projects, then seek recommendations and approvals from the higher authority governing committees.

One such ad hoc committee was formed when the IEEE-SA’s Corporate Advisory Group (CAG) recognized that the original corporate membership model might be a limiting factor in starting new entity-based standards projects. Chaired by Dennis Brophy, this ad hoc spent a couple of years creating and adjusting proposals that would meet the needs of corporate members as well as the IEEE-SA itself. The membership model had to be cost-effective, have distinct benefits, and be enticing for corporations and other entities. It also needed to be non-disruptive to the IEEE-SA’s policies and finances. Several iterations were required before the model satisfied the stakeholders. Dennis and his ad hoc’s members stayed persistent and encouraged throughout.

It’s good to see the fruits of the ad hoc committee’s labor. And even better to taste them.