The Open Group Standards Process

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Definitions &
Glossary of Terms

The Open Group Governing Board
Standards Approvals Process

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Adopting Standards

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Policy

Forum Operations

Introduction
Responsibility
Decision Making and Voting

Accompanying Slides (informative)

1 Introduction

The Open Group Forums are working bodies internal to The Open Group, with a lifetime that spans many projects.

2 Responsibility

2.1 Scope

A forum provides a neutral platform for its members to meet others with similar issues and working together on best practices, and the development and adoption of industry directives and standards.

Forums have a significant degree of autonomy, including the development of plans and approval of deliverables, within the underlying principles established for The Open Group as a whole.

2.2 Specific Activities

A forum must have a chair, elected by the members of the forum.

A forum must use the consensus process for decision making, and not other procedures such as Roberts Rules of Order.

Meetings must be announced in advance (4 weeks for face to face meetings)

Minutes must be recorded and published for all meetings.

A forum must operate within the charter of The Open Group and be lawful and not do anything to undermine the assets or operation of The Open Group.

Workings of the forum must be open to all its members.

3 Decision Making and Voting

All forum decisions and votes shall be taken in accordance with the voting policies described herein.

In general, forums are encouraged to use consensus decision making. Consensus decision-making is a decision-making process that not only seeks the agreement of most participants, but also to resolve or mitigate the objections of the minority in order to achieve the most agreeable decision.

There are occasions when voting is required:

Decisions relating to approval of specifications MUST use the approved Company Review procedure.
Important Decisions (see 3.2 below)
Other Decisions (see 3.3 below)

Forums shall keep a clear record of all decisions taken with rationale.

When votes are required forum must adopt one company, one vote.

3.1 Quorum

A Quorum in this context means at least 10% of the membership of the Forum, or 3 members, (whichever is the greater).

3.2 Important Decisions

A super majority vote is required for important decisions, that is 75% of those eligible to vote for approval.

A quorum is required for important decisions.

Important decisions are votes on:

Approval of standards/specifications and the publication of other deliverables on the standards track or fast track.
Election of Forum officers

3.3 Other Decisions

Other decisions are for decisions not classified as important decisions.

Other decisions may be made by a consensus of those present at a face-to-face or teleconference meeting, provided that a quorum is present

When a quorum is not present, other decisions can be taken by electronic voting and a simple majority is required (50% +1 of those voting ).

Last updated: June 24 2007