Slashdot Mirror
OOXML Critic Fired From Finnish Standards Board
Shirke writes "A Finnish computer magazine reports that Finnish Standards Association has fired Mr. Lassi Nirhamo (article in Finnish). Some excerpts: Mr. Nirhamo was chairing the OOXML standard proposal meeting. During the meeting Mr. Nirhamo asked other board members to be excused of his duties and voice his opinion as a private citizen. After this was granted he criticized the standard proposal and resumed his duties as chairman. Mr. Nirhamo has now been let go due to a 'lack of trust.' Independent observers have assessed his chairmanship as 'excellent' and 'one of a kind.' The Association is accepting applications for the position. Anyone interested?"
Getting fired for something that's on record that you not only asked permission to do, but got that granted permission documented.
That's a new one to me.
Are these people elected and when's the next open forum meeting?
) Human Kind Vs Human Creation
) It'd be interesting to see how many humans would survive to serve us.
another Finn that no-one trusts.. Good grief.. I can't think of any.
How we know is more important than what we know.
But it sounds like, again, OOXML is a shit standard, and it's going to be pushed through by pressure from MS and its political lackeys (I mean allies), and anyone who takes a stand is going to be crushed.
Do I have it?
What you do mod an "informative troll"?
I think it is an interesting post, even though I am not capable of reading Finnish. Typical anglo-centric thinking: Since I cannot read this, it has no merit for this website.
The details are trivial and useless; The reasons, as always, purely human ones.
You're flamebait/troll, but I'll bite for future reference.
This place won't post stuff without links (there are exceptions, but you can't count on them). If a submission doesn't have a link, the story won't be posted. If a story isn't posted, you won't find out about it.
In other words, if this story in Finnish hadn't been posted, you would have been more ignorant about the OOXML ISO process, story in Finnish or not. A longer summary or complete translation will no doubt appear soon, too (I speak Finnish myself, but am too busy at the moment unfortunately).
I'm afraid that Steve wouldn't keep the chair very long...
I'm in!
± 1 Freakish
Back on topic, personally I've got no issues with someone posting a foreign language link, and providing the interesting bits in English. I'm certainly interested in viewing the opinions of other countries.
I'm afraid that Steve wouldn't keep the chair very long...
coffee+keyboard == you are a git....
No, Im pretty sure that being bought off is a requirement to hold chair on a committee. So, get millions from Microsoft, then they'll consider you.
If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
The article says (I can read finnish) that mr. Hirkamo was still on his trial period of 4 months, during which his boss could legally fire him without providing a reason.
The CEO of the organization in question, Pekka Järvinen, stated that "Unfortunately issues came up during the trial period, after which trust is no longer possible". And "I cannot comment on the reasons any further".
I guess his anti-Microsoft ideas were not appreciated :-P
"throwing chairs" in Finnish?
In their defense, the board just said they'd excuse him of his duties. They didn't say they'd give them back.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
Here's a quick translation of the article.
The finnish standards association has suddenly terminated the contract of Lassi Nirhamo, the new expert of the IT standardization team. As late as last week, Nirhamo participated in the SFS press conference and was part in making the finnish stand on OOXML known at the ISO organization. Lassi Nirhamo tells to the Computer- magazine that he only got the information about the severance of his contract last thursday, after his four months probation was coming to an end. At this point the employer can legally terminate the contract without any cause.
Lassi Nirhamo himself wonders, that no reasons were given. "It's quite hard to say anything about reasons, when they haven't told me", says Nirhamo.
Lassi Nirhamo lead the OOXML- meeting in Finland, in which the finnish stand on the standard was decided upon. During the meeting, Nirhamo surprised the participants by announcing that he would speak as a private person for a moment, instead of being the chairman of the meeting. At that point he announced that he was against accepting the Microsoft standard. At the end of the meeting, Nirhamo put forward the opinion that Finland should abstain from voting.
The CEO of the Finnish Standrds Association, Pekka Järvinen says that the reason for ending the contract is lack of trust. "Unfortunately, during the probation period, issues came up, after which trust is not possible. I cannot comment further than this." Järvinen says over the phone.
SFS is now searching for a new expert who would be responsible for the many IT standardization related jobs, like continuing the OOXML- issue in the ISO organization next spring.
Preview is your friend... :)
Microsoft standard critic got fired
Picture text: Lassi Nirhamo participated SFS (Finnish Standards Association) press conference just last week, where he said he'll take OOXML subject to ISO workgroup. Finland's vote may change in the spring.
SFS has surprisingly ended work contract of information technology standards team's new expert Lassi Nirhamo. Just last week Nirhamo participated SFS's press conference and was going to take Finland's views about OOXML to the ISO.
Lassi Nirhamo tells Tietokone magazine, that he was informed losing his job last thursday, when four month test period was about to be finished. At that point employer can legally give notice to end the contract without giving any reason why.
What Lassi Nirhamo wonders is the fact there was absolutely no reason given. "It's rather difficult to say anything about the reasons, because they never told me", says Nirhamo.
Lassi Nirhamo was leading Finland's OOXML-meeting, in which Finland's vote was decided. In the middle of the meeting Nirhamo surprised the participants by telling he won't be the chairman, but a private person. At that point he declared to be against accepting Microsoft's standard. In the end of the meeting Nirhamo suggested to vote void.
The CEO of SFS Pekka Järvinen tells the reason for ending the contract was lack of trust. "Unfortunately certain things came in to daylight during the test period that prevent trust. I can't elaborate any further than this", says Järvinen on the phone.
SFS is looking for a new expert, whose responsibilities will include many information technology projects, such as continuing on OOXML in ISO in the spring.
Oh come on, it's obvious.
If Lassi's gone, we'll need Rin Tin Tin.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
...that his career is finnished, I guess.
(Thanks, thanks, I'll be here all week.)
As a state gets corrupt, its laws multiply; the most corrupt states have the most numerous laws. (Tacitus, Annales 3:27)
(Note: this is a very quick word-to-word almost translation, I am not an expert in this just wrote for people to get a view of the issue)
The news is:
--
Expert who criticised the Microsoft's standard was fired.
Finnish Standards Association SFS has suddenly let go of IT standardation team's fresh expert, Lassi Nirhamo. Yet in the last week, mr. Nirhamo participated in SFS press conference and was taking the Finnish stand about the OOXML standardiation issue into ISO.
Lassi Nirhamo told the magazine (Tietokone) that he was told last weeks thursday that hes trial period of four months was coming to an end. In the trial period, its possible for employer to legally fire you for any cause.
Lassi Nirhamo wonders however why no cause has been given. "Kinda bad to say anything about reasons, when they didn't tell me why", says Nirhamo.
Lassi Nirhamo led the Finnish OOXML-meeting where Finnish stand on the issue was decided. In middle of the meeting, Nirhamo suprised the participants as announcing that for a moment hes not the chairman of the speak but a private citizen. In that period he announced that he personally was against apporval of the Microsoft's standard. At the end of the meeting mr Nirhamo presented that the Finnish stand on the issue would be to give no answer.
SFS's CEO Pekka Järvinen told that the reason of ending the employment was lack of trust. "Unfortunately during the trial period of employment, some issues came up after which trust is no longer possible. I cannot comment more on the specifics.", says Mr. Järvinen in a telephone conversation.
SFS is now recruiting for new expert who's responsibility is many IT-standardation projects and continuing of the OOXML-issue in the ISO at spring.
---
I hope this clears the subject a bit.
I, personally, am also interested in the discussions on said topic, not only the news article. Well, sometimes. Depends on the story. But definitely in this case.
"/0: Paradoxical"
Great Intellect...
It seems perfectly sensible but for one crucial detail:
"'Tis is Slashdot: we don't RTFA here!"
---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
ISO and IEC are often very political and feelings often run very high in working groups, though this rarely makes it way to the plenary sessions. People shout. Observers try to intervene and have to be shut up. This guy behaved perfectly properly. Your comment about "decisions as chairman" show a bottomless ignorance of procedure. I can only assume that either you have no experience whatsoever of standards work, or your employer is based in Redmond.
Pining for the fjords
Anyone interested?
Depends. How much does MS pay?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Quisling was Norwegian
God: An invisible friend for grown-ups.
So far from Japan,
Quite a long way from Cairo,
Lots of miles from Vietnam.
Finland has it all....
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Mr. Nirhamo is Finnished.
Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
As the chairman of the committee, he was responsible for shepherding and implementing the decisions of the committee.
As a private citizen he had a good deal of experience and an opinion about which way he would have liked the decision to go.
It is actually standard practice, in this situation, to do precisely what he did.
It is also standard practice, in any real democracy for someone to have an opinion that doesn't jive with that of the majority. The expression of that dissent is not (and should not be), per se, grounds for any sort of retaliation. Unless there was something in his speech that was completely inappropriate that was not mentioned or aluded to in the article, then I would be inclined to say that his firing was very, very bad news for the standards process in Finland.
Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
Remember when Judge Jackson told a reporter what he thought of Microsoft coming into his court with blatant lies and fake demonstrations. His ruling was overturned because of his *bias*.
Judge Jackson broke the three cardinal rules of being a judge:
1. You do not talk to the press.
2. You DO NOT talk to the press.
3. YOU DO NOT TALK TO THE PRESS.
Done with slashdot, done with nerds, getting a life.