FAQ

1. Is this a standards group?
   
   No. The Business Ecology Initiative is not a standards group, but an advocacy group. However because it is managed by the largest IT industry standards group (OMG) it does have influence, in terms of helping to prompt and promote usage of open standards, that may be relevant to the work of Business Ecology. 
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2. Who are the members of the initiative?
   
   Business Ecology Initiative members will include users and vendors of business and technology products and services, universities, analyst groups, government agencies and non-profit companies interested in promoting the message and value of Business Ecology. 
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3. What is the definition Business Ecology?
   
   The current approach to IT in most companies is a dead-end. However, IT is uniquely positioned as a vital asset to the enterprise due to its inherent and vast knowledge of supporting the automation of business processes. Given this, the future role has to be optimizing - streamlining -- taking the waste out of all business processes enterprise-wide. That waste is in the form of resources (paper, water, electricity, people, space, signatures, etc.). The purpose of Business Ecology is to optimize the business processes of an org while maintaining and extending business capabilities for suppliers & customers. 
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4. What is meant by sustainability with Business Ecology?
   
   Sustainability is about physical waste (electricity, paper, water, space, etc.) and how this waste affects the business. In order to "sustain" a business, the company must look at minimizing this waste in an effort to optimize processes. 
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5. What is an Actionable Architecture?
   
   An Actionable Architecture is one that supports Business Ecology through the output of business process analysis and supports decisions that maximize value and minimize waste. It supports the creation, automation, termination and optimization of business processes, applies to governance of these processes, identification of opportunities to promote sustainability (minimize waste in the process) and provides for the reuse of existing processes to support new business needs. 
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6. How does Cloud fit into the overall approach?
   
   The Cloud is only a part of Business Ecology; outsourcing business processing. The natural extension of cloud would be that eventually there is no IT department in the company, however there is still IT in the organization. One way to think about this is to consider that just because a company may use an electric company to provide service, there are still wires and outlets, etc. IT people become business optimization people (automating, streamlining and outsourcing). 
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7. How does BEI relate to the OMG-managed programs BPM Consortium, SOA Consortium and GCIO?
   
   The OMG Business Ecology Initiative (BEI) provides information and education on the OMG’s overall mission statement for all programs – that is to help enterprises create sustainable, open business processes through IT. Each of the OMG programs provides an important focus on the attributes of BE.

   SOA-C is about capturing business processes and governing the extension of existing process to new capabilities. BPM-C is about optimizing existing processes, finding opportunities for reuse and focusing efforts on business targets. GCIO is about finding economies in processes throughout the business that can minimize resource usage without downgrading value or efficiency. 
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8. Why is OMG starting this group now?
   
   A downturn in the market means a need for innovative thinking. IT must recognize its current shift in the enterprise dynamic and look beyond “usual business”. The current climate provides a great opportunity for IT leadership to better integrate itself with the business and provide a broader and more crucial role. This new role will enable the sustainable, efficient, agile businesses of the 21st century. Enterprises need to manage and optimize their business processes (lean, efficient, sustainable, adaptable, etc) and have the architecture and structure in place to support this. The technology to do so is in place today, so the time is NOW. OMG has positioned itself as an instrument for widespread collaboration to support this trend.
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9. Why is IBM Sponsoring this new group?
   
   IBM sees value in supporting a cross-organizational non-vendor specific group that works to help clients be successful in today's new economy. The OMG Business Ecology Initiative is focused on bringing together business and IT to create business capability around Sustainable BPM and SOA. The idea that IT become a full partner with business is one that IBM has been espousing based on SOA for a number of years, including as a sponsor of the SOA Consortium.
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10. How can I join the BEI?
    
    Members and sponsors of an OMG-managed program (SOA-C, BPM-C and / or GCIO) are eligible for involvement in this exciting new initiative. For more information on membership or sponsorship for BEI or any of the OMG programs please contact the OMG’s Director of Business Development, Ken Berk at ken.berk@omg.org or +1-781-444-0404 Ext. 150. 
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Last updated on December 10, 2009