Date: 24-Feb-1997
Dear Colleague,
As a member of The Open Group, your company has either been attracted by the promise of Open Systems or forced to endure the reality by government legislation.
The promise of Open Systems to deliver an interoperable systems infrastructure remains largely unfulfilled today with the industry still heading towards fragmentation and re-invention of wheels rather than reaching agreement and leveraging what already exists. If we are to realise the benefits of the Information Superhighway both as users in terms of delivering systems to a Global Market and vendors in terms of having a Global Market to sell into, then it is essential that the industry, both users and vendors, becomes focused upon delivering consistent infrastructure Frameworks into which interoperable and exchangeable components can be slotted in a transparent manner.
I see the Interoperability Program Group as being the forum in which the needs are identified, by both Users and Vendors, and Task Groups formed to resolve the issues. The IOPG will need to work closely with other PG's, especially the Architecture PG, and by having a broad view will ensure that the issues raised are addressed in the context of the full picture. It has been suggested by the Open Group Board that the IOPG should also investigate the issue of an Interoperability Brand and it would be useful to have your input on this suggestion in Seattle.
So, if you agree that Open Systems is not yet delivering on its promises and you want to take some positive action to help the industry to focus on the real issues, then please bring your problems along to the IOPG meeting in Seattle.
Regards
Dave King
Chair IOPG