The Open Group
provides a range of services to help a consortium produce an industry
standard regardless of its size. We can help with determining the right path forward, selecting
specifications on which to base the standard(s), undertaking the technical
editing and production, facilitating consensus and working towards
international recognition of the standard if appropriate.
Our process provides management and facilitation
employing our document review system that is specifically designed for collaborative
document development, and consensus review and voting. In this way,
our process speeds up delivery and maximizes the input from the
technical experts engaged in the standards work.
Success Stories: Bluetooth, IBIX and
UNIX®. DBIOP, CDSA
For consortia that have an existing formal process for approval and adoption
of specifications as industry standards The Open Group can manage the process and provide
support services.
Consortium without a formal process for approval and
adoption of industry standards, or those concerned with industry
acceptance, can benefit from one of several solutions offered by The Open Group.
The Open Group can consult on the establishment of
formal procedures as appropriate. Typically this involves creation of a set of technical procedures
as set out
in bylaws for the organization, which cover the agreed stages,
timing, voting rights, procedures, etc. It is also necessary to
cover disputes and future support.
Alternatively, The Open Group can submit the proposed standard
through its own approval and adoption procedures. The resulting
standard is then adopted and published by The Open Group. Using this route, our
fast-track process has been used by a number of individual organizations
and consortia to submit a specification
and, if proven acceptable, achieve status as an internationally
recognized standard. For example, CDSA, IBIX, DBIOP
Management - Building Consensus
The Open Group has 18 years of experience in setting up and managing the
entire
standards development process. Typically
this involves project management, convening the technical working group,
providing the secretariat and editorial support, coordination of the
standards work and liaison with the participants. As a neutral party, The Open Group is able to handle the delicate tasks,
of conducting formal reviews, voting, and issue
resolution. We also provide ongoing management for maintenance and
versioning of the standard.
Building consensus involves collaboration by various people
acting as individuals or representatives of
their organizations with the objective of building consensus for and adoption
of a standard by the community it is designed to serve.
For example, we have used our skills to manage and coordinate the combined efforts of The Open
Group Base Working Group, IEEE PASC, and ISO under the aegis of the Austin Group.
This resulted in early agreement and adoption by all three organizations of the entire UNIX® set of
four standards with over 4,000 pages.
Consortia developing and managing their own standardization work can
employ The Open Group's web-based document review and comment system that
facilitates consensus review of documents and voting. We also
undertake technical editing and publishing work.
