IEEE Policies

7.4   Professional Activities - Assessing Member Needs

In the area of professional activities which relate to social, economic, legal and ethical issues, there are certain topics on which it is important and highly desirable that the skills and expertise of qualified IEEE members be used to bring out pertinent facts that can serve to highlight key issues and bring them into clearer focus.  In matters of national professional significance, the Board of Directors, its Executive Committee, or the President may appoint or authorize an IEEE committee, staff or volunteer to look into a particular subject as defined by the Board and ask for a report that includes a consensus of opinion where appropriate.  The report may be further reviewed and augmented as necessary by the Board of Directors or by the Executive Committee.

If the Board of Directors has not expressed a position, then the publication or presentation of committee reports to other organizations is to be considered as reflecting the opinions of the committee and not necessarily the membership.

As a basis for assisting the IEEE Board in estimating the opinion of the IEEE membership on pertinent subjects, such as those on items of a technical or professional character, or those related to certain governmental, legislative or executive issues, use should be made of member opinion surveys.  These surveys should be made from time to time of the whole membership of the IEEE or of the appropriate special part, as well as by means of membership sampling techniques when a broad data base exists that can be used for comparison.

All organizational units of IEEE should inform the Executive Committee, through their Regional or Divisional Director, of their intent to engage in significant professional activities not otherwise authorized.