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For such a key strategic policy document (which calls out for attention by people who are unfamiliar with the topic), you would wish that they could also commun

For such a key strategic policy document (which calls out for attention by people who are unfamiliar with the topic), you would wish that they could also communicate it through a simpler more eye-catching format (like an infographic, or banner / poster that someone could tape up on a cubicle wall) as emblematic of the initiative. (with links to more in-depth details for anyone who needs them) Despite its importance, this document has the format / look and feel of a procurement for bulk purchase of machine screws.

newsclues 5y ago
Memos are the primary armament of the pentagon. This is preferable to a PowerPoint.
_djo_ 5y ago
I would think it’s the other way around: Important policy documents like this should be written in this format in order to minimise ambiguity and provide the space for detail. As a formal guidance memorandum this format also allows for each section and paragraph to be uniquely referenced through with a logical structure, same as legal documents. There will almost certainly be infographics and posters made of this document’s key points and distributed around the DoD, but they’ll refer back to this as the canonical source. Honestly if more software companies worked this way there’d be less confusion and fewer cases of building the wrong thing, loss of institutional knowledge, and duplicated effort.
- supernova87a 5y ago
  Well, I think I agree, I'm just saying that I hope that a more communication / publicity generating document accompanies this one.
Animats 5y ago
If you've had anything to do with DoD, in uniform or out, you've seen stuff like that. Now, DoD often does provide info in much more informal formats.[1] For this issue, there is a FAQ.[2] It covers not only common misconceptions but such things as how Eben Moglen enforces the GPL and the difference between the 2-clause and 3-clause BSD licenses. There is a DoD forum on Google Groups about this.[3] The proponent of that document is active on that forum. [1] https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/ https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/ [2] https://dodcio.defense.gov/Open-Source-Software-FAQ/ https://dodcio.defense.gov/Open-Source-Software-FAQ/ [3] https://groups.google.com/g/mil-oss https://groups.google.com/g/mil-oss

newsclues 5y ago

Memos are the primary armament of the pentagon. This is preferable to a PowerPoint.

_djo_ 5y ago

I would think it’s the other way around: Important policy documents like this should be written in this format in order to minimise ambiguity and provide the space for detail. As a formal guidance memorandum this format also allows for each section and paragraph to be uniquely referenced through with a logical structure, same as legal documents. There will almost certainly be infographics and posters made of this document’s key points and distributed around the DoD, but they’ll refer back to this as the canonical source. Honestly if more software companies worked this way there’d be less confusion and fewer cases of building the wrong thing, loss of institutional knowledge, and duplicated effort.

supernova87a 5y ago
Well, I think I agree, I'm just saying that I hope that a more communication / publicity generating document accompanies this one.

Animats 5y ago

If you've had anything to do with DoD, in uniform or out, you've seen stuff like that. Now, DoD often does provide info in much more informal formats.[1] For this issue, there is a FAQ.[2] It covers not only common misconceptions but such things as how Eben Moglen enforces the GPL and the difference between the 2-clause and 3-clause BSD licenses. There is a DoD forum on Google Groups about this.[3] The proponent of that document is active on that forum. [1] https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/ https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/ [2] https://dodcio.defense.gov/Open-Source-Software-FAQ/ https://dodcio.defense.gov/Open-Source-Software-FAQ/ [3] https://groups.google.com/g/mil-oss https://groups.google.com/g/mil-oss