An earlier exchange questioned whether or not Standards Bodies should model
business process. Clearly, driving business standards from a generalized
business model with "common business objects" is 'the way to go.' But is it
a viable role for SDO's to take charge of the business process model effort
or approval?
This question is at the heart of the role of SDO's in 'tomorrow's world' and
their relevance to the business community. The answer is an unequivical -
partly.
1. Relevant SDO's (those that achieve funding from the business community)
are involved in creating relevant standards. These can be industry or
supply chain specific. The winner in the SDO process will be organization,
sanctioned or not, that gathers the right group of partners to achieve
consensus with.
2. Standards can come in two forms- vertical and horizontal. As the
efforts of organizations in the XML world have been explained to me, they do
two things: either vertical standards (such as Rosettanet) with a specific
supply chain or industry OR they do horizontal standards (such as ebXML)
that seek to band together the vrtical standards against a common business
model or process. Thus, the process allows for a natural tension between
vertical (highloy specific needs) and cross function or industry needs. It
should become a negotiation resulting in the most optimal creation of
standards. This is a good thing.
3. I see the future role of an X12, for example, in providing a central
focus for "registering" the vertical standards, certifying their ability to
interlock with horizontal standards that allow the supply chain or
interlocking processes to 'participate' or both (e.g.- registering a cross
function or industry standard that allows these to interoperate.
4. Who should do the model work behind either the vertical or horizontal
standards? It is clear that the business community (in various groups) must
do this. They can either opt to participate through the central focus an
SDO brings or register their work with an SDO to gain 'global acceptance.'
In the short run vertical standards may have much appeal (quicker and easier
to develop around a 'pressing need.') but we (the business community) will
ultimately require the interlock ability implied by the horizontal standards
efforts. Either way, a new level of corporate participation in business
process model work is mandated and this in turn mandates more reource. In a
way, who cares how we get, the point is that the community at large
benefits. If an SDO is smart- it will want to embed itself into
facilitating this process in a manner that encourages horizontal needs
whilst recognizing the immediate vertical needs.
Hopefully some thoughts on what I am sure are incomplete ideas.
Len Schwartz
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