[db-wg] RIPE DB development process: Numbered Work Items

Dear team,

Reflecting back upon the last 18 months, the chairs feel that we as a
group can do better to make it easier to track and discuss ideas in a
structurered way. Therefore, we propose a process/vehicle which we call
"Numbered Work Items (NWI)". The goal of this proces is to make it
simpler to learn the current status of a proposal, and in which court
the ball lays.

kickstart: To kickstart the proces, any db-wg participant can email the
    chairs with a snippet of text (a rough problem statement) and
    formally ask the chairs to make it a work item. The chairs then can
    say "yes" and assign a number, or "no". If a number was assigned,
    the work item will be routed through three phases.

phase 1: problem definition
    In this phase as group we'll work on formulating an exact problem
    definition: text goes back and forth in the working group, example
    cases of the problem are provided. In a 2 or 3 weeks timeframe the
    chairs declare consensus on the problem statement of NWI.

    phase 1 output: clearly defined problem statement, or a conclusion
    we cannot agree upon a problem statement definition. If the latter
    is true, the NWI cannot proceed to phase 2.

phase 2: solution definition
    solution finding: people can propose solutions to a work item's
    problem statement. Solutions can come from RIPE NCC staff, or any
    working group member. RIPE NCC may offer an implementation analysis
    on proposed solutions or aspects of solutions.

    For the NWI to move to phase 3, RIPE NCC has to provide the group
    with a summary of their understanding of the solution, and the
    chairs declare consensus on the group's acceptance of this summary.

phase 3: development & deployment phase
    RIPE NCC writes the code, sets timelines what happens when,
    documents the transitions/migration plan if applicable.

finish: when the change has been deployed in the production environment.

Every month, someone will email the group with an overview of all open
Work Items, a brief summary of the NWI, the phase they are in and
possibly in who's court the ball is and the next action.

Kind regards,

Job