Introduction: The GNSO Standing Committee on Improvements Implementation (SCI) is tasked to review and assess the effective functioning 'on a periodic timescale for all recommendations [stemming from GNSO Improvements] in order to identify possible issues and/or improvements'. One of the recommendations that has been in force for over a year is the GNSO Working Group Guidelines (adopted by the GNSO Council on 16 March 2011). As a starting point to identify possible issues and/or improvements, the SCI has developed this survey to obtain input from GNSO Working Groups that have used the GNSO Working Group Guidelines as well as other related sections of the GNSO Operating Procedures, such as Statements of Interest (SOI) as part of their operations.

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* 1. At the beginning of the working group, you were directed to the relevant information on the operation of a GNSO Working Group, including the GNSO Working Group Guidelines (full as well as summary), in addition to an overview being provided of these materials by ICANN Staff. Was this sufficient to get familiar with the relevant rules and procedures related to the operation of a GNSO Working Group?

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* 2. If you responded ‘no’ to the previous question, please explain what other measures should be taken in your view to get familiar with the relevant rules and procedures.

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* 3. Did you read the GNSO Working Group Guidelines?

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* 4. If you responded ‘yes’ to the previous question, please rate each of the major components of the GNSO WG Guidelines:

  Ineffective Neither effective nor ineffective Effective Very effective
Section 1.0 General
Section 2.0 Roles and Responsibilities
Section 3.0 Norms
Section 4.0 Logistics and Requirements
Section 5.0 Products and Outputs
Section 6.0 Charter Guidelines

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* 5. Thinking about your current and/or recent Working Group(s), please assess the Working Group Guidelines on the following dimensions:

  Very Poor Poor Fair Good Very Good
Applicability (they are relevant to our work)
Usefulness (they help guide us in performing our work)
Completeness (they are not missing any important elements)
Structure (they are intelligently organized for reference purposes)

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* 6. The GNSO Working Group Guidelines cover amongst others detailed information on the roles & responsibilities of WG participants; standard methodology for decision-making; appeals process; behavior and norms; charter guidelines. In your view, is there any information missing or any areas that need improvement / changes?

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* 7. If you responded ‘yes’ to the previous question, please provide further details as to what you believe is missing or needs changing / improving.

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* 8. Other than comments provided above, do you have any additional recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the GNSO Working Group Guidelines?

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* 9. One of the required elements for Working Group participation is the completion of a Statement of Interest (SOI). In your view, are the questions that need to be completed and information to be provided still relevant (see section 5.3.3. of the GNSO Operating Procedures)?

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* 10. If you responded ‘no’ to the previous question, please explain which questions / information to be provided are no longer relevant.

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* 11. In your view, are there any questions missing from the SOI that should be included in order to ensure declare ‘specified interests, relationships, arrangements, and affiliations that may affect the judgments of Relevant Parties in the conduct of their participation within the GNSO’?

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* 12. If you responded ‘yes’ to the previous questions, please provide further details as to which questions should be included.

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* 13. Are there any other comments or suggestions you would like to share with the SCI? If yes, please specify.

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