[ebxml-dev] Re: [EDI-L] Article on ebXML Core Components -posted forMary K Blantz -IONA Technologies

[Mike Rawlins <mike@rawlinsecconsulting.com>]

It was definitely not my intention to prompt such lengthy and considered 
responses from Ms. McCarthy and Ms. Blantz, both of whom hold current or 
past leadership positions in the Core Components work.  I have great 
respect for them and the work that they are doing, and I'm sure that 
they have better things to do.

They both made their points quite well, and I don't see any reason for a 
lengthy response.  I do wish to say though, that if anyone got the 
impression from the article that I supposed that the work would 
ultimately "be discarded", this is not what I was trying to convey.  I'm 
not very confident about predicting the future in this regard, but as I 
said in the closing paragraph I believe that some of the key concepts 
are going to survive.

Though I disagree with McCarthy and Blantz on several things about the 
CC work, overall I do still support it and will be offering comments on 
the current public review draft of the ebTWG Core Components Technical 
Specification.

Mike

Loos, Claus wrote:

>As a former Co-Chair of ebXML Core Components, a current member of two of the ebXML Core Components Project Teams and the Chair of X12 Materials Management, I feel compelled to respond to some of Mike's comments.  While much of what he has said is true, I do not agree with his conclusions on Core Components.
>
>It is likely that the Core Components project was the most ambitious of all the ebXML efforts; which probably made it the most likely to fail, but also the most likely to be of genuine global value.   The goal was the development of syntax-neutral, reusable building blocks that would allow interoperability no matter what syntax was being used.  This is an incredible goal, and requires the support and participation of widely diverse business and technical experts.
>
>Some EWG and X12 subcommittees have agreed to work jointly on both Core Components and ultimately on the development of international XML documents.  Materials Management, for example, has made this decision.  This is excellent news for all businesses that will implement XML for their Materials Management processes.  
>
>Our previous attempts to align X12 and EDIFACT were helpful, but it would have been much better not to have two different syntaxes for the same business processes in the first place.  It is very exciting that if we are successful we will have one international XML standard message for any given business process, and through the work of ebXML Business Process and Core Components will be able to interoperate with the other syntaxes.  While this does not preclude companies developing their own special customized versions, it gives them the opportunity to align with the global standard and reduce costs for themselves and their trading partners.
>
>The use of UIDs for Core Components, both Basic and Aggregate, is a key to interoperability.  When this concept is presented to groups developing their own XML, they greet this ability with enthusiasm and commitment.  
>
>The new ebXML Core Components Supplemental Documents Project Team is 'proving' the validity of the ebXML Core Components Technical Specification, while developing an end-to-end example based on an existing business process.  While our group is already quite large, we would welcome participation by additional business and technical experts. 
>
>The results of our work will be used to
>* Recommend changes to the Technical Specification, if any are needed
>* Serve as a basis for the CC Primer, which will be used by teams all over the world to discover Core Components
>
>I am sure that our Chair, Melanie McCarthy, would invite anyone to join our list serve, participate in our conference calls, and attend our meetings.  The next meeting will be help May 20th to 24th, in Barcelona.
>
>
>
>
>For CCSD:
>Boeing and why chosen
>Ultimate goal to do ebXML BP and CC end-to-end example
>Detailed steps
>	Learned that the BP Worksheets need change and didn't help much
>	Learned that an accurate Class Diagram is critical
>Way we worked
>Team list
>List serve 
>Spreadsheet
>Mention OAGI
>Conference Calls
>Next meeting
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>From: 	Mike Rawlins [mailto:mike@rawlinsecconsulting.com] 
>Sent:	Tuesday, April 16, 2002 3:45 PM
>To:	edi-l; ebxml-dev; XML/EDI
>Subject:	[EDI-L] Article on ebXML Core Components
>
>I've just posted the next to last article in my series on ebXML - A 
>Critical Analysis.  You may find "ebXML Core Components - the master 
>data dictionary?" at the URL below.
>

-- 
Michael C. Rawlins, Rawlins EC Consulting
www.rawlinsecconsulting.com