Terms of Reference - e-Business Transition Ad-hoc Working Group (eBTWG)

Draft Terms of Reference

e-Business Transition Ad-hoc Working Group (eBTWG)

eBTWG is a Ad-hoc Working Group of UN/CEFACT with a mandate to undertake a short-term program of work. The mandate is the agreement between the UN/CEFACT Steering Group and the Working Group on overall objectives (scope and purpose), key deliverables and delegated responsibilities.

"The purpose of the e-Business Transition Ad-hoc Working Group (eBTWG) is to serve as a bridge between the recently completed ebXML initiative and the future Electronic Business Working Group (eBWG) organization. The working group will identify work items required for completion of the ebXML Business Process, Core Components, and Architecture projects and oversee the development of those items until eBWG is fully defined and functional, whereupon the work items will be incorporated into eBWG. Consequently, the lifespan of the ad hoc group is expected to be limited to 12 months.

eBTWG's scope is Electronic Business activities related to ebXML within the mission and objectives of UN/CEFACT and its working groups. Until the eBWG is operational, projects related to the key deliverables, or to ebXML, that are being undertaken or being considered by the Business Process Analysis Working Group (BPAWG), the Codes Working Group (CDWG), and the UN/EDIFACT Working Group (EWG shall be developed under the guidance and framework of eBTWG"

These Terms of Reference have been developed in accordance with document R.650/Rev.2.They are drafted with the full expectation that eBTWG will be incorporated into eBWG within 12 months. However, it is recognised that the Administrative Team Structure, while providing a bridge to the eBWG shall be subject to review, change, and approval by the eBWG at its first meeting. The Terms of Reference cover:

a definition of the specific technical issue(s) to be addressed;
a detailed description of the proposed deliverables;
membership;
the administrative team structure of the Group;
a time schedule and milestones of its function(s);
a proposal for liaison with other Groups and any external organizations.

The requirements for each of the above are as follows:

Definition of the specific technical issue(s) to be addressed

In order to assist UN/CEFACT in transition to its new eBWG, eBTWG will:

progress the ebXML Architecture, Business Process and Core Components work;
progress new projects identified by EWG, BPAWG and CDWG;
collaborate with BPAWG, CDWG, EWG, and the CSG on implementation and migration plans for the transition towards ebWG for UN/CEFACT's approval.

Detailed description of the proposed deliverables

Core Components Specifications

Discovery and Analysis
Naming Conventions
Context
Metadata Definition

Lexicon of Core Components
XML production rules
Business Process Specification Schema
Business Process and Information Models
UN/CEFACT e-Business Architecture
Standard library of XML business grammar for XML document structures

Membership

To ensure coordination across all UN/CEFACT Working Groups, the ad-hoc group will be led by a member of the CSG. Interested UN/CEFACT head of delegation may designate one or more experts to the eBTWG. In doing so, they may delegate this task to one or more organizations, which may be national, regional or international. Experts are expected to contribute to the work based solely on their expertise. The following Permanent Working Groups are requested to nominate representatives: BPAWG, CDWG, EWG & ITPWG. Electronic participation in the work of the group is encouraged.

There are three types of members:

Participating members (P): P-membership resides with the individual (rather than their sponsoring organization) of any UN/CEFACT member body (member states and organizations) interested in the work of eBTWG. P-membership status is achieved by written application to the eBTWG secretariat once membership requirements are met. P-membership requires attendance at two consecutive eBTWG meetings. Absence from two consecutive eBTWG meetings relinquishes P-membership, and requires readmission as stated above.
Virtual members (V): V-membership resides with the individual (rather than their sponsoring organization) of any UN/CEFACT member body (member states and organizations) interested in the work of eBTWG. V-membership status is achieved by written application to the eBTWG secretariat once membership requirements are met. V-membership requires no attendance at eBTWG meetings. Participation is achieved via active engagement in the online (list server) discussions. Absence email exchange participation between three consecutive eBTWG meetings relinquishes V-membership, and requires readmission as stated above.
Guests (G): G-members are invited by the eBTWG chair or vice chairs and are encouraged to participate.

All members can make contributions and participate in the meetings.

Administrative Team Structure

Overall Structure

The WG leadership shall consist of a Chair, 2 Vice-chairs, an Executive Committee and Steering Committee. UN/CEFACT's Steering Group (CSG) shall appoint the Chair and Vice-chairs. The chair shall appoint a member of the group as secretariat. The WG Chair shall lead the Plenary, Steering and the Executive Committee.

Project Teams

The WG shall be organized into project teams as per TRADE/CEFACT/2000/22, each with its own elected project team leader. Any election shall be decided by a simple majority of those voting.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the WG Chair and Vice-chairs and secretariat. The Executive Committee shall provide overall WG leadership and shall support and address management, procedural and non-technical issues that do not require the attention of the Plenary.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall be composed of the Executive Committee and the project team leaders. The Steering Committee shall address technical issues that do not require the attention of the Plenary.

Plenary

The Plenary shall be composed of all WG members and shall serve as the mechanism for reaching consensus on defining the over all technical direction and deliverables, as well as approving the output of the project teams.

Time scales

The Ad-hoc working group has a limited life span of up to 12 months (until eBWG is fully defined and functional). In order to achieve this deadline, the WG shall meet at least once a quarter in different parts of the world, with regular tele-conference calls between these meetings.

Proposals for liaison with other Working Groups and external organizations

The eBTWG shall co-operate and establish liaisons will other UN/CEFACT Working Groups and Ad-hoc groups as required.

In addition the eBTWG shall establish liaisons with other organizations as required. In particular with OASIS's Technical Committees that have the responsibility in regard to the ebXML infrastructure and with W3C as it relates to XML.