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The Open Group Standards Process

9. Invited Experts, Invited Guests, and Invited Member Representatives

This section describes the process for managing individuals who participate in a Forum or Work Group as Invited Guests or Invited Experts, or in a Governing Board Work Group as an Invited Member Representative from the general membership. It defines the criteria for an individual to be eligible to be invited, and the process for invitation and appointment.


9.1 Criteria for Invited Guests, Experts, and Member Representatives

9.1.1 Invited Guest

An Invited Guest:

  • Should possess recognized expertise that a Forum or Work Group needs for a specific activity
  • Can be a prospect for membership
  • Can be from a different category of membership

9.1.2 Invited Expert

An Invited Expert:

  • Must possess recognized expertise that a Forum or Work Group needs for a specific activity
  • Must make material contributions to development of a standard
  • Must not be a prospect for membership
  • Must not be one category of member but enjoy the benefits of a higher category by invitation

9.1.3 Invited Member to a Governing Board Work Group

An Invited Member to a Governing Board Work Group:

  • Must possess recognized expertise that a Governing Board Work Group needs for a specific activity
  • Must make material contributions to development of a deliverable
  • Must be a representative from the general membership of The Open Group

9.2 Participation of Invited Guests, Invited Experts, and Invited Member Representatives

9.2.1 Participation of an Invited Guest

A Forum or Work Group Chair may invite an individual with a particular expertise to participate in a Forum or Work Group as an Invited Guest, and the individual may participate as an Invited Guest subject to the following being completed in advance of any participation:

  • The Chair has designated the individual as an Invited Guest.
  • The Open Group VP Membership & Events has agreed with the Chair's choice.
  • The individual has provided a signed non-disclosure agreement, which includes IPR rules, to The Open Group Legal Counsel.

9.2.2 Participation of an Invited Expert

A Forum or Work Group Chair may invite an individual with a particular expertise to participate in a Forum or Work Group as an Invited Expert. This individual may represent an organization in the group (for example, if acting as a liaison with another organization). The individual may participate as an Invited Expert subject to the following being completed in advance of any participation:

  • The Chair has designated the individual as an Invited Expert.
  • The Open Group VP Membership & Events has agreed with the Chair's choice.
  • The individual has provided a signed non-disclosure agreement, which includes IPR rules, to The Open Group Legal Counsel.

9.2.3 Participation of an Invited Member Representative to a Governing Board Work Group

A Governing Board Work Group may invite an individual with a particular expertise to participate as an Invited member. The individual may participate subject the following being completed in advance of any participation:

  • The Chair has designated the individual as an Invited Expert.
  • The Open Group Governing Board has raised no objections to the individual from the membership becoming an Invited Member to a Governing Board Work Group.

Resource: Invited Guest/Invited Expert Non Disclosure Agreement


9.3 Designation of an Invited Guest, Invited Expert, or Invited Member Representative

9.3.1 Designation of an Invited Guest or Invited Expert

To designate an individual as an Invited Guest or an Invited Expert in a Forum or Work Group, the Chair must inform The Open Group VP Membership & Events and provide rationale for the choice.

If the Chair and The Open Group VP Membership & Events disagree about a designation, The Open Group CEO determines whether the individual will be invited to participate in the Forum or Work Group.

The Chair should not designate as an Invited Expert in a Forum or Work Group an individual who is an employee of a member of The Open Group.

The Chair must not use Invited Expert status to provide member benefits to non-members.

9.3.2 Designation of an Invited Member Representative to a Governing Board Work Group

To designate an individual as an Invited Member to a Governing Board Work Group:

  • The Work Group chair shall send a formal request to the Director, Standards and provide rationale for the choice
  • The Director, Standards shall send notification to the Governing Board of the intent to add an invited member, and ask for any objections

9.4 Term Limits

An Invited Guest participates in a Forum or Work Group for a single meeting only.

An Invited Expert participates in a Forum or Work Group from the moment the individual joins the group until any of the following occurs:

  • A period of one year has elapsed, or the specific activity is completed, whichever happens first.
  • The Chair or The Open Group CEO withdraws the invitation to participate.
  • The individual resigns.

An Invited Member Representative to a Governing Board Work Group participates in the Governing Board Work Group from the moment the individual joins the group until any of the following occurs:

  • A period of one year has elapsed, or the individual has ceased to make material contributions, or the activity has completed, whichever happens first
  • The Governing Board Work Group chair or The Open Group CEO withdraws the invitation
  • The individual resigns

Last updated: January 2020

Correction applied to 9.3.1 heading July 2021