Introduction

This document provides guidance on the development of The Open Group publications. It should be read in conjunction with The Open Group Standards Process and the Handbook for the Consensus Decision-Making Process. It is written for individuals participating in The Open Group Forums and Work Groups as we work together to develop multiple standards towards the vision of Boundaryless Information Flow™.

This document supplements and defers to The Open Group standard governance procedures contained in The Open Group Standards Process. Information on The Open Group Standards Process is available at: www.opengroup.org/standardsprocess open external link icon.

Publication Tracks

The main objective of a Forum/Work Group should be the development and evolution of relevant standards in its subject area; however, not all output is suitable for standardization, and a number of alternative publication tracks are available, as shown in Figure 1.

publication tracks
Figure 1. Publication Tracks

Common to each track is the requirement for a document to obtain approvals prior to publication in the following order:

  • Approval by the Vice-President responsible for the work area, and the Director of Standards

  • Approval by The Open Group Executive Management

A document containing normative requirements must be developed and approved through the Standards Process. This results in a formal status as a standard of The Open Group. The Standards Track is described in the Standards Development Lifecycle.

If the document contains supporting guidance to a standard, or provides informative guidance on a topic related to the functional area for the Forum/Work Group, then it should be developed and published as a Guide. A Guide has no formal status. The Guide Track is described in the Guide Process.

If the document is a discussion or position paper to document current thinking in a subject area with a view to soliciting feedback and comment, then it should be published as a White Paper. A White Paper has no formal status. The White Paper Track is described in the White Paper Process. White Papers should not be used as a path for documents intended to become standards; the Snapshot process should be used instead (see the Snapshot Process).

What is a Standard?

“A standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, managing a process, delivering a service, or supplying materials – standards can cover a huge range of activities undertaken by organizations and used by their customers.

Standards are the distilled wisdom of people with expertise in their subject matter and who know the needs of the organizations they represent – people such as manufacturers, sellers, buyers, customers, trade associations, users, or regulators. They are powerful tools that can help drive innovation and increase productivity. They can make organizations more successful and people’s everyday lives easier, safer, and healthier.”

—— Source: BSI

Guiding Principles for Forums and Work Groups

The Open Group Forum and Work Group operations are guided by the Guiding Principles for Forums and Work Groups.

Check Your Understanding

(For answers, please see Check Your Understanding – Answers.)

  1. True or False? Read each statement below and decide if it is true or false:

    1. Only publications on the Standards Track need to go through Executive Approval.

    2. White Papers should be used for documents intended to become standards.

    3. There are seven Guiding Principles for Forums and Work Groups.