PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Background

• The Third Accountability and Transparency Review (ATRT3) Recommendation 3.6 calls for Organizational Reviews to be evolved into a Continuous Improvement Program (CIP). The Board directed ICANN org to initiate the development of a project plan to implement a pilot Continuous Improvement Program to ensure it yields the outcomes intended by the ATRT3 before a Bylaws amendment is completed.

• Organizational Reviews assess the effectiveness of ICANN’s Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs). Organizational Reviews¹ are conducted by Independent Examiners to assess: (i) whether that organization, council, or committee has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure; (ii) if so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve its effectiveness; (iii) whether that organization, council, or committee is accountable to its constituencies, stakeholder groups, organizations, and other stakeholders² . ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6 calls for Organizational Reviews to be evolved into a Continuous Improvement Program in each Supporting Organization (SO), Advisory Committee (AC), and Nominating Committee (NomCom).

1. Currently, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) is not included in Organizational Reviews. ↩
2. From the ICANN Bylaws. ↩

Challenge

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 has led to a current backlog to implement a number of recommendations.

In most cases, Independent Examiners have stayed away from determining if the organization  has a continuing purpose and whether organizational structure should be changed. So most recommendations that were issued by Independent Examiners were intended to improve effectiveness of operations and accountability.

ICANN org previously received broad support from the community to defer the next scheduled Organizational Reviews, considering the need to plan for changes to the Organizational Review processes including implementation of the CIP. Accordingly, the ICANN Board took action in June 2022 to defer the next cycle of Organizational Reviews. The Board will consider the progress made toward evolving Organizational Reviews by June 2025.

Solution

The intent of ATRT3 Recommendation 3.6 to replace Organizational Reviews with a Continuous Improvement Program will hold the SO/AC/NomCom accountable to their stakeholders and focused on making meaningful changes to improve their structures. In FY24, the ICANN community faces competing priorities and a significant workload. Therefore, one of the goals for the CIP is to accomplish the objectives of the Organizational Reviews without undertaking the volume of work required in the past. Further, the recommendation to create a Continuous Improvement Program states that ICANN org shall work with each SO/AC/NomCom to establish a Continuous Improvement Program. It will include an annual satisfaction survey of members/participants, and a regular assessment once the CIP Framework is developed.  

ICANN org proposes the formation of a Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) to convene in January 2024, with the goal of developing a framework for implementation of ATRT3 Rec. 3.6. ICANN org anticipates that the representatives in the CIP-CCG will share best practices and collaborate on community-wide implementation of ATRT3 Rec. 3.6, while relaying information back to their constituencies to inform the process and voice decisions. Specifically, the CIP-CCG will:

1. Develop a shared understanding of the meaning of Continuous Improvement in the context of ATRT3 recommendation 3.6,

2. Consider a range of methodologies for effective continuous improvement programs,

3. Agree on the methodology that is fit for ICANN purpose, and

4. Formulate a CIP Framework, to be used by each SO, AC, and NomCom.

CIP-CCG membership and mailing list