© 1995-2010 Sales Enquiries Site Index
Program Group Organisational Structure
What is a Program Group?
A Program Group is formed for each major technical work area.
A prime objective of a Program Group is to ensure that technical activities within each major work area are co-ordinated with, and take into account, business requirements. Similarly, any work on business requirements should take into account technical and other issues that may affect the establishment of an industry standard, or a technology development.
Program Group membership is drawn from Commercial and Government customers, from the independent software supplier industry, and from the major systems suppliers.
The Program Groups normally meet during the latter part of the week of the Open Group Members' Conferences, which are currently held 4 times per year. An essential part of the business of such Program Group meetings is to review Task Group (see below) progress updates, and approve or modify their direction and deliverables. It is also a valuable opportunity to liaise with other Program Groups to resolve any cross-functional issues.
Task Groups
A Program Group usually sets up a Task Group when it identifies a need to address a particular technology or problem area, or develop or co-ordinate review of a particular specification or work item. Membership of a Task Group is then drawn from interested members of the Program Group, ensuring it includes those members with specialist expertise in that subject. At any time, a Program Group will usually be running several Task Groups. Each Task Group appoints a leader who is responsible for reporting back to the Program Group as required. A Task Group ontinues its task until its work is done or no longer required, as decided by the Program Group.
Task Groups usually do their work between meetings, communicating mostly through email and telephone (including teleconferences), though occasionally they may, if their membership wishes, also arrange extra face-to-face meetings.
Liaisons with Other Groups
As well as forming liaisons with other Open Group Program Groups, a Program Group or a Task Group may form specific liaisons with external industry Technical Working Groups (TWGs), Special Interest Groups (SIGs), or other industry technology development activities, in order to contribute to and avoid unnecessary duplication or diversification of work, so as to ensure that their activities deliver optimum practical value in the marketplace.
Task Group activities may encompass all stages of an Open Group project, and thus can involve (at the discretion of the Program Group):
Business Requirements Development
This involves the development of a detailed statement of the business requirement,
with supporting rationale and quantitative business case data. Example real-world
scenarios that support the requirement are decribed wherever possible.
Monitoring of Technical Developments
This involves the detailed review of technical drafts, with the objective of
confirming that the technical development work, (whether standards specification or
enabling collaborative technology), is continuing to address the business
requirement. This is in recognition of the fact that business requirements may leave
issues open to interpretation. The function of the Task Group in this case is to provide
clarification that helps the technical development proceed on an appropriate path. In
certain circumstances, Issue Resolution Requests will be raised during the normal course
of technical development, and the Program/Task Groups will be invited to comment.
Contributing to Brand Development
As specifications and/or enabling collaborative technologies are completed, Brand
programs are defined. These use Product Standards, which in turn reference Technical
Standards, to define the technical requirements a product must satisfy in order to achieve
The Open Group's Brand for that product. Program/Task Groups are invited to contribute to
the development and approval of Product Standards, including their form and positioning,
to ensure those Standards remain relevant and deliver optimum value to all sectors of the
industry; from major systems suppliers, through independent software suppliers, to user
customers.
Participation in Brand and Collaborative Technology Launch
Brand programs and their associated Product Standards must be presented and promoted
in the marketplace, in order to achieve visibility and pervasiveness in procurements and
deployment in the user community. The views and support of customers and independent
software suppliers are vital, in ensuring that the efforts of all involved in the
development phase, achieve practical market success. Working in partnership with The Open
Group staff and with product suppliers, the Program/Task Groups are expected to become
involved in marketing communications and procurement support activities
associated with all Brand launches and continued promotion events.
Wherever possible we have identified contact points for further information. If you can't find the information you need, please contact The Open Group at any of of the following locations.
Return to Security Introductory page