Creating Tomorrow's Internet.
Knowledgeable insiders in stakeholder Internet industry companies and research
institutions are aware to varying degrees of the need for improvement in the
base protocols. However, executive decision makers at this stage are probably
not aware of the need for reform. The Internet Analysis
Report - 2004 is designed to assist in raising awareness, and contains a
detailed analysis of the change management issues involved in protocol reform.
Some large industry players may initially perceive benefit in blocking or
delaying change in order to protect dominant market positions, or to gain
opportunities from proprietary approaches. There will doubtless be robust
debates within some industry players about the market affect of change in this
area.
However, market leaders will face crucial losses of markets if change does not
occur within a reasonable time frame. Involvement in the new generation Internet
will eventually be seen as a market plus; but the issues must be understood and
clearly communicated for this to happen.
Some defensive actions can be expected in current Internet bodies, and some
feeling of loss of control and that they should be in charge of change. The more
positive involvement of individuals who initially react this way is more likely
in a middle adoption phase, when the project clearly has impetus.
Government officials from a wide variety of backgrounds will have interest in
new governance structures and in public policy issues which may emanate from
projected changes. However they will be less interested in the protocol issues
and content to leave that to others to develop.
Information is the key to success here. Unless the problems are recognised and
acknowledged, and compelling reasons to effect change are understood, action to
rectify the problems will not occur.