Title: Editorial on 2 EDI/XML Standards.
Greetings,
There
have been several recent postings regarding Mr. Vollmer's article in
InternetWeek. I think it is important for everyone to see the comments of
the ASC X12 Vice chair regarding this article. I should also tell you that
Klaus-Dieter Naujok, in his capacity as chair of the eBTWG, has taken exception
to the final paragraph in the article and has asked Mr. Vollmer to clarify that
he did not speak with the eBTWG leadership, and that there is no decision to be
taken regarding VCML.
Mark
Mark,
You may or may not be aware
that I responded to this article as soon as I saw it. My response to Mr.
Vollmer was as the Vice Chair of ASC X12 and a member of the UN/CEFACT EWG
Management Team. I can forward you a copy of my message to
him. Mr. Vollmer has a good history with ASC X12. He has
published numerous articles highlighting work within the subcommittee and has
provided an even discussion in each case. However, this article contained
a huge error.
Mr. Vollmer
replied to my message. He stated that he stands by his
conclusions. I cannot argue with his opinion, I do not share it but he is
allowed his opinion. My real issue is the link that he established between
ASC X12 , UN/CEFACT EWG, and the two alternatives. My message to him was
direct regarding this point-- Neither ASC X12 or UN/CEFACT EWG was
evaluating these two canditates as an interim solution. It may be that one
or both of the candidates would like this to be the case, but it is simply not
true.
You ask about the source of
the information. I asked Ken where his information came from. He
reports that he does not remember. He suggested that some of it was
derived from open source. I reviewed all the press releases from DISA and
ASC X12 to make sure that we had not said something to allow him to come to a
conclusion. We did not. I have queried the X12, EWG management
team, and ebTWG leadership. No one from these three groups has spoken
with Mr. Vollmer. None support the position. I am convinced
that the comment was derived out of the June ASC X12 meeting, held in Saint
Louis. Both the UBL and VCML representatives were present at the meeting
and both made numerous presentations. Neither was validated by the EWG or
X12 leadership.
I am in the
process of completing an article for Internet Week, coordinated by Ken Vollmer,
that will explain the current positions of our groups.
I hope that
the final draft of the article will be ready by mid-week. It should appear
during Labor Day week.
What is the
real problem? The article is in print and some will read this to mean that
ASC X12 and UN/CEFACT support the Virtia solution. I am not sure how to
undo this. If folks want to point to the article to validate one solution
over another, and do not read the follow-up article, they can make incorrect
choices. I invite your ideas for what else can be done. I have
spoken with the VCML proponent with Vitria and assured him that neither ASC X12
or UN/CEFACT EWG was endorsing their solution. In fairness to the UBL
group, I have heard nothing from Jon Bosak or his members. I do not
believe that anyone from that group was responsible for the comments in the
article.
Ralph
Berwanger
Vice Chair ebTWG, Vice Chair ASC X12, UN/CEFACT EWG Management
Team
-----Original Message-----
From:
CRAWFORD, Mark [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, August 27,
2001 9:37 AM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: Editorial
on 2 EDI/XML Standards.
Greetings,
I am sure many of you are aware of the recent
article by Ken Vollmer in Internet Week. If you have not read it, go to
http://www.internetweek.com/columns01/beat081601.htm
A few questions for everyone -
(1) Can
someone please explain to me why the EBTWG must choose between VITRIA and UBL
as one is a product and the other is an initiative, they are two different
solutions focused on entirely different issues, and neither is a "project
team" within eBTWG?
(2) Can
someone please explain to me how Mr. Vollmer knows that a decision on
selecting a bridge product by the eBTWG management team is expected in the
next few weeks?
(3) Can
someone please identify what if any communications have taken place between
Mr. Vollmer and the eBTWG management to lead him to his
conclusions?
Mark
Mark
Crawford
Research Fellow - LMI XML
Lead
E-business Strategies Group
______
Logistics Management Institute
2000
Corporate Ridge, McLean, VA 22102-7805
(703) 917-7177 Fax (703) 917-7518
Wireless (703) 655-4810
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.lmi.org
"Opportunity is what you make of it"
