RE: [tgf] OASIS TGF TC - 19th JUNE MEETING PAPERS

Thanks John

And a special thanks to Nig for the work on the Platform pattern.

The extra detail and Nig’s careful attention to the things being emphasised and the things it is silent on, shows the effort put in to get a more balanced result.

I guess I could live with it, and I can even offer up a diagram from NZ’s Govt Enterprise Architecture ..which nicely and agnostically abstracts everything such that you can make it fit pretty much any government related architecture framework you like, including support for the platform pattern.. J.

But ……

As those on the last call may remember, I was not in favour of the new pattern.

I am more predisposed to Chris’s suggestion of extending the Technology Management section if we do anything at all.

It was a strategic viewpoint – that we were heading into dangerous territory by indicating more technical direction than is already in the Framework, and it risks ‘tipping the balance’ in favour of technology over culture and behaviour and..and.. and being ‘written off’ as technocrats by our detractors.

Despite Nig’s most valiant efforts, I’m still of that view. But I accept I am probably in the minority, given what a great job he has done… J

We have developed the framework to what I see as a finely balanced piece of work. We have given some broad guidance around technology without over prescription. This is a classic case of ‘less is more’. By leaving it the way it is, we allow deployers to add more of their own interpretation. And that will change as the years go on. If ‘platform’ is introduced there’s an implicit presupposition about the what a TGF architecture might entail. And that will change over time, as it has already done since the TC was formed. And as I said on the call, it’s not about the technology. It’s about the culture, the behaviour, and the approach to the ever increasing range of challenges that Public Administration face. Technology is no doubt an enabler for whatever the public service wants to achieve. For example, let’s say that in 10 years, some countries cannot afford the tax burden to run public services as bloated as they are now and the public service is radically cut to just being a governance/risk/compliance overseer, with everything else done by the private sector. In that case, let’s say the toll road owner has its road sensors, working with the car, and how many times the driver crosses his curb into his driveway, in order to take micro-taxes. Apart from GRC, there is no public service ‘platform’ as such..not in an architectural sense anyway. The toll road owner may be federating with multiple other private sector parties without any government involvement or any kind of ‘hub’.

As the TGF stands today, I think its ‘agnosticsm’ /abstraction allows for that kind of scenario. With a platform pattern included I’m less certain…

Cheers

Colin

From: tgf@lists.oasis-open.org [mailto:tgf@lists.oasis-open.org] On Behalf Of John Borras
Sent: Monday, 16 June 2014 9:04 p.m.
To: TGF TC List
Subject: [tgf] OASIS TGF TC - 19th JUNE MEETING PAPERS

Attached are the papers for our TC call on Thursday (Wednesday for Peter and Joe). The call details are contained in the zip file but if you have any problems please contact Geoff Clarke.

I would appreciate some more comments on the draft Platform Management pattern before the call please, either positive or negative.

A note of any absences would be welcomed in advance.

Finally just a reminder that this call is at the new times of 07.30 UK / 08.30 CEST / 02.30 EST / 23.30 PST (18^th) / 18.30 NZ / 16.30 AUS.

John

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