closed Continuous Improvement Program Framework

Outcome

This Public Comment proceeding was scheduled to remain open from 21 November 2024 through 9 January 2025. The Public Comment proceeding was extended to 21 January 2025 in response to requests for additional time to submit input.

Eleven (11) submissions providing input on the Continuous Improvement Program Framework were received: eight (8) from organizations and groups, and three (3) from individuals. ICANN org will inform the Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group on the inputs received in this Public Comment and will address any necessary updates to the CIP framework. The comments received will greatly support the Continuous Improvement Program Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) to consider whether updates are needed to finalize the Continuous Improvement Program Framework, the final step before the Continuous Program is shared with SOs/ACs/NomCom.

What We Received Input On

The Third Accountability and Transparency Review (ATRT3) Recommendation 3.6 calls for Organizational Reviews led by Independent Examiners to be evolved into a Continuous Improvement Program led by the ICANN community. The ICANN community significantly contributed to the evolution of Organizational Reviews into a Continuous Improvement Program, with 21 out of 22 of the groups across the ICANN community represented in the Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG). The CIP-CCG regularly convened and engaged with their community groups throughout 2024 to develop a Continuous Improvement Program Framework. Best practices were applied by considering a broad range of continuous improvement methodologies used by other organizations to arrive at the Principles, Criteria, Indicators model, identified as the best model for ICANN. The CIP-CCG also applied lessons learned from previous experiences with Organizational Reviews.

The CIP-CCG is seeking input on whether the Continuous Improvement Program Framework is fit for purpose for each Supporting Organization, Advisory Committee, and the Nominating Committee. The Continuous Improvement Program Framework will strengthen the existing culture of continuous improvement, while enabling the community groups to identify areas for improvement and work toward these improvements in a way that works for them. By adopting the proposed framework, the community groups can do what makes sense for them while maintaining accountability to their stakeholders and transparency to the ICANN community.

The Continuous Improvement Program Framework:

• Introduces a Principles, Criteria, Indicators framework and its application to evolve ICANN Organizational Reviews led by Independent Examiners into a Continuous Improvement Program led by the ICANN community.
• Suggests five overarching principles based on the existing scope of Organizational Reviews, in accordance with the ICANN Bylaws.
• Provides description of principles, criteria, and indicators that were developed by the CIP-CCG: Volunteers applied the Continuous Improvement Program Framework to develop 3-5 criteria and related indicators with their groups, and identified best practices for collaboration with their groups.
• Provides examples of continuous improvement tools (including criteria, indicators, and a survey) that the ICANN community can use to implement and evolve the Continuous Improvement Program.

What we need your input on:

1. Whether the Continuous Improvement Program Framework is fit for purpose to evolve Organizational Reviews led by Independent Examiners into a Continuous Improvement Program led by the ICANN community, to inform the eventual Holistic Review:
   1. Do you support the Continuous Improvement Program Framework (comprising Principles, Criteria, and Indicators)? See pages 6 and 8.
      • Please provide your rationale and related suggestions for improvement.
   2. Do you agree with the five principles, based on the current Organizational Review objectives described in the ICANN Bylaws, to apply across the organizational structures (SOs, ACs, and the NomCom)? See page 7.
      • Please provide your rationale and related suggestions for improvement.
2. Agreement for the Continuous Improvement Program Framework to be adopted by each SO, AC, and the NomCom:
   1. Do you agree with the plan for the next steps to carry the Continuous Improvement Program out in two, 3-year assessment periods? See pages 9 and 10.
      
      • Please provide your rationale and related suggestions for improvement.

These questions were updated on 4 December for Clarity.

Background

The development of the Continuous Improvement Program is a result of ATRT3 recommendations pertaining to Specific and Organizational Reviews. There are community-perceived shortcomings of Organizational Reviews, which led to the development of ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6. The perceived shortcomings include the understanding and competence of the Independent Examiners that have conducted Organizational Reviews and produced recommendations. The quality of the Independent Examiner recommendations has been debated by the community, and the volume of recommendations led to a backlog to implement a number of recommendations.

The language of ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6 states: ICANN org shall work with each SO, AC, and the NomCom to establish a Continuous Improvement Program. Such a Continuous Improvement Program shall have a common base between all SOs, ACs, and the NomCom but will also allow for customization so as to best meet the needs of each individual SO, AC, and NomCom (See p. 72 of the ATRT3 Final Report). The Continuous Improvement Program will be flexible enough to enable each ICANN organizational structure to utilize the Continuous Improvement Program Framework to fit their own unique needs. It will also have the common base needed to assess the health of each ICANN organizational structure in a predictable and consistent manner so that results can be understood holistically across the community.

Supporting Information