Enterprise SOA

What is a Definition Group? Who can join?

The ES-Community brings relatively small groups of thought leaders together to discuss and design services. These groups are called Definition Groups. There are Request Definition Groups for the request process and Review Definition Groups for the review process.

All Definition Groups have a finite life cycle—they are not standing bodies or long-lived committees. All are required to deliver something of value to the community at the end of that life cycle. Request Definition Groups deliver a request for new services or service changes to SAP. Review Definition Groups deliver final service definitions, an accompanying platform update from SAP with the service implementations, and a test suite for community members to use in certifying products that are implemented to use the services in SAP's platform.

Definition Groups form, by invitation only, out of the diverse membership of the community. A company can have membership in many different groups depending on the interest level and input it can provide. In general, the leaders of the Definition Group will invite the thought leaders of the community, those who have relevant experience in the subject area, and those who have a demonstrated ability to work within collaborative environments to create community value. Having diverse participation within a Definition Group is important, but because these groups have a short, finite life cycle and are tasked with delivering value efficiently to the ...