The Code of Conduct

Participation in The Open Group Forums and Work Group is subject to the Member Code of Conduct. This supports The Open Group Standards Process by providing practical guidance for the conduct of business and work carried out through:

  • Email lists

  • Teleconferences

  • Virtual meetings

  • Face-to-face meetings

  • Online discussions

Read the Member Code of Conduct open external link icon.

Participant Guidance

In general, all particpants should:

  • Respect The Open Group principles upon which all Forum/Work Group decisions and decision-making processes are based

  • Commit to the achievement and success of The Open Group vision, mission, and principles

  • Uphold standards of transparency, equity, and consensus

  • Respect the authority of the Chair at all times in managing and facilitating the decision-making process within the Forum/Workgroup

  • Support the development of work through the official policies and procedures established and agreed by members of the Forum/Work Group

Meetings and Online Discussions

During meetings and online discussions:

  • Respect and adhere to existing frameworks and protocols for meetings, discussions, and decision-making

  • Focus on the agreed scope and objectives, avoiding the use of meetings or lists to discuss or raise topics not related to The Open Group, such as messages or discussions with competitors about the situation in a particular market

  • Communicate in English, only using other languages when agreed

  • Promote a culture of fair, equitable, and ethical behavior

  • Uphold processes relating to debate, discussion, and dispute, making every effort to acknowledge, listen to, and understand the views of all participants

  • Actively engage and participate, allowing others to do the same

  • Share relevant views and opinions in a timely, concise, and respectful manner, avoiding off-topic information (spam) and any negative or offensive language and behavior

  • Resolve to identify and deal effectively with differences of opinion in a fair and timely manner, following the decision-making framework

  • Accept the decision once a consensus has been achieved, and allow the meeting to move on

  • Continue individual discussions outside of the collective meeting/list

Email Guidance

Particularly in relation to emails:

  • Do not send subscription or unsubscription requests to the list address itself; use the respective – request address instead, contact the applicable member of The Open Group Staff, or raise a helpdesk ticket

  • Try to use plain text instead of HTML

  • Avoid sending large attachments

  • When replying to messages on the mailing list, do not send a carbon copy (cc) to the original poster, unless they explicitly request to be copied

  • If you send messages to lists to which you are not subscribed, always note that fact in the body of your message

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of everyone to:

  • Identify attempts to coerce, threaten, or sway the views of others in ways that prevent an open and professional debate

  • Report any offensive, inappropriate, or coercive behavior to the Chair

  • Avoid using or responding to any hostile or disrespectful words or behavior