syd@dsinc.DSI.COM (Syd Weinstein) (05/03/89)
In an effort to allow for end-user input into the ongoing development
of Elm, and yet not have flame-fests and arguments drive the
development team to ignoring everyone because its easier, it has been
suggested that we develop questionaires on how people view the proposed
changes. The questionaires will allow specifying how you feel about
an issue, including how strongly you feel, and allow room for free form
input as well as the fixed questions.
I would like to try this method as an experiment during the 2.3
development. I have never worked with this method before, but it
sounds worth a try. To keep Elm as a cohesive force, as coordinator,
I am not relinquishing absolute control, but I do promise to take the
answers into account wherever practical (Please remember, this is a
volunteer effort).
To keep my views from skewing the results, Robert Granvin, whom has
been very vocal about the changes to Elm and has had some experience
with this method, has agreed to run the surveys. With his help, I have
made up this biography form. It will be used to understand peoples
responses, not to explain them away. Sometimes, a BSD derivative user
expects a command to behave one way and a System V derivative user
another. Robert will keep the responses anonymous, only reporting the
answers and their profile in aggregate to the group.
Anyone is welcome to join the survey, and no one will be turned away.
However, as in any standards group, please before you totally condemn
a change, make a presentation for your opinion. A statement why the
status quo is better, or a statement why a different change should be
made will obviously hold more weight than a simple "I hate it, leave it
alone."
The surveys will be distributed as need suggests. The entire process
will be handled through electronic mail in a mailing-list distribution
type of process. This will not only make it possible to control the
distribution and follow up to respondents, but also to understand the
cross-section of those responding.
Therefore, it's important to gain a basic understanding of who you
are and what you may expect. Below is a biographical form that we
request anyone interesting in becoming a part of the "Survey List" to
complete and return. This information will be kept in the strictest
confidence, and will only be used as demographic data to categorize
results.
The actual surveys themselves will not be posted to comp.mail.elm until
it is completed, at which time survey and its results will be posted.
Please, if you wish to make your input known, join the survey.
Sydney S. Weinstein, CDP, CCP
Coordinator
Elm Development Group
PS: Remember to send your completed form to the address at the end.
I am not gathering them myself, but Robert is.
------------------ Cut Here before returning ----------------------
1. From the following list, please check the categories that best
describes your job function. Please select only one.
[ ] Systems Administrator
[ ] Programmer
[ ] Student
[ ] Clerical
[ ] End user
[ ] Hobbiest
2. Please indicate the type of Unix(s) that you CURRENTLY use or
support. Check all that apply.
[ ] System III/V (USG) and derivatives
[ ] BSD and derivatives
[ ] Xenix
[ ] Sun OS
[ ] Apollo SR9
[ ] Apollo SR10
3. Please indicate the type of Unix(s) that you have had PREVIOUS
experience in use or support. Check all that apply.
[ ] System III/V (USG) and derivatives
[ ] BSD and derivatives
[ ] Xenix
[ ] Sun OS
[ ] Apollo SR9
[ ] Apollo SR10
4. Please check the category that best describes the number of years
that you have had computer experience. Include time that would
have been considered student, user, programmer, administrator,
manager, etc.
[ ] 0 - 1
[ ] 2 - 3
[ ] 4 - 5
[ ] 6 - 10
[ ] 11 - 15
[ ] 16+
5. Please indicate how many years you have had experience in using
any Unix system.
[ ] 0 - 1
[ ] 2 - 3
[ ] 4 - 5
[ ] 6 - 7
[ ] 8 - 9
[ ] 10+
6. Do you regularly receive and read Usenet News?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
7. How many years have you used Elm?
[ ] 0 (New user)
[ ] 1
[ ] 2
[ ] 3+
8. Please indicate which versions of Elm you have used. Check all
that apply.
[ ] Elm 1.5
[ ] Elm 1.7b/1.7
[ ] Elm 2.0 gamma
[ ] Elm 2.1
[ ] Elm 2.2
[ ] Any other version
9. Are you an internet site? Internet sites are systems that have
a defined numerical address which is used for routing and
communication between other machines on an internet network.
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Don't know
10. Does your site run a "smart mailer" such as smail or sendmail?
Typically, these are mailers that understand the domain addressing
form of "person@domain".
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Don't know
11. Finally, so that surveys and questionnaires can be sent to you,
it's necessary to collect some basic information. This information
is used solely for categorization of responses. This information
will be kept in the strictest of confidence and will not be used
for any other purpose.
How many users directly use the system(s) you represent?
[ ] 1 - 10
[ ] 11 - 100
[ ] 100 - 500
[ ] 500 - 1000
[ ] 1000+
Please indicate the highest level of education that you have
completed.
[ ] High school
[ ] Two year technical degree
[ ] Four year degree (BS)
[ ] Masters degree
[ ] Any higher degree
Please indicate your age.
[ ] 17 or under
[ ] 18-23
[ ] 24-30
[ ] 31-40
[ ] 41-50
[ ] 51-60
[ ] 61+
Name: [ ]
Email address: [ ]
Thank you for taking the time to complete and return this questionnaire.
Upon receiving a completed form, you will receive an introductory letter
describing in what manner you will receive survey questionnaires, along
with an electronic address for your records for where to submit adminis-
trative requests. Surveys and questionnaires will be presented periodically
when additional input is requested or considered valuable.
With your input, it is hoped that the continuation of the Elm development
will be directed along the lines that the user community perceives as
important, as well as provide the Elm developers with opinions on new
enhancements or changes, as well as provide additional ideas or embel-
lishments to the suggestions.
Your opinion is important!
Thank you for your interest.
Please submit this completed form to the address below to be added onto
the Elm Survey mailing list.
Submit to:
bio@sialis.mn.org
...uunet!rosevax!sialis!bio
--
=====================================================================
Sydney S. Weinstein, CDP, CCP Elm Coordinator
Datacomp Systems, Inc. Voice: (215) 947-9900
syd@DSI.COM or {bpa,vu-vlsi}!dsinc!syd FAX: (215) 938-0235