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Release: CX-Io (preview)

Expert Group

The aim of the Expert Groups within the Catena-X Automotive Network e.V. is to develop results together with the members in line with the association's strategic direction. The Expert Groups are initiated and managed by the related Committee. Depending on their scope, Expert Groups do not exist forever. They work on dedicated topics, present the results to the Committee and are then retired. If a follow up is required, a new Expert Group has to be initiated.

Expert Group Life Cycle​

Expert Group Lifeline

The life of an Expert Group is devided into three phases:

I. Initiation II. Working Phase III. Closing

The overview of the existing Expert Groups can be found in the organizational chart on the Catena-X homepage.

The product strategy involves the specific operational activities within a Expert Groups in collaboration with the committee. It deals with the tactical day-to-day tasks and processes that need to be executed to support the business domain strategy.

The focus lies on implementation, realization and the delivery of tangible results.

I. Initiation​

  1. Request Submission: Interested individuals or organizations seeking to form an Expert Group may submit their requests to the Catena-X Association. These requests will be assigned to a committee for consideration. The committee will add the request to its agenda for validation.
  2. Validation and approval: The committee will conduct an initial validation of the request. If deemed valid, the requester will be required to submit a one-page document outlining the challenge the Expert Group aims to address, the current status, and the objectives the group should achieve. This document ensures a clear understanding of the group's goals and scope.
  3. Application Phase: The one-page document serves as the foundation for the Application Phase. Employees of association members are invited to apply for a seat in the Expert Group. Members of the group will be selected based on predefined criteria.
  4. Notification and Kick-Off: All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application (core team, review team, or rejected). Core team members will be invited to a kick-off meeting for the group's inaugural session, typically scheduled two weeks after the conclusion of the application phase.

II. Working Phase​

During their working phase, Expert Groups are expected to continuously develop and advance their assigned topics. This involves regular meetings, collaborative research, and consistent communication among members to ensure progress. Additionally, planned work and results should be regularly shared within the association to promote transparency and collective insight. The groups should also provide periodic updates to the committee, highlighting key milestones, challenges encountered, and any adjustments to their objectives. Active engagement and a commitment to innovation and improvement are essential to the success of the Expert Groups in achieving their goals. The committee mentor guides the Expert Group and reports back to the committee on progress. The committee will review the outcomes for strategic fit of Catena-X.

The working phase should be viewed as a cyclical series of regular activities that align with the release cycles and its phases of the association.

The composition of the Expert Groups is not static and is expected to change over their life time. In any case people that want to join an existing Expert Group need to be approved the same way, as applicants for new Expert Groups. If a Expert Group member is stepping down from its position, it cannot be handed over to another employee of the same company.

III. Closing​

Once a Expert Group delivered its dedicated topic, a regulated closing takes place. The Committee validates the results of the Expert Group as after the closure of the Expert Group, the responsibility for the topic transitions to the Committee. When the results are validated, the Expert Group is then officially discharged and closed by Committee.

A final documentation of the work results on the digital collaboration platform is mandatory, and every Expert Group member is required to contribute to this. The documentation is to be made accessible to every member in coordination with the office.

Expert Group Roles​

Expert Group Leads​

The Leads serve as the primary points of contact, ensuring the effective delivery of the product strategy by the Expert Group. They have the authority to delegate tasks and create additional roles as needed. The Leads are tasked with:

  • monitoring member participation
  • escalating issues with underperforming members
  • maintaining cohesion and coordination within the Expert Group to align with the Committee's objectives

Expert Group Member​

Responsibilities of the Expert Group members include:

  • active participation in meetings and discussions
  • timely execution of assigned tasks
  • sharing of relevant knowledge and best practices
  • maintaining effective collaboration and coordination within the group
  • continuously seeking opportunities for improvement

An Expert Group Member plays an active role in shaping decisions, offering input, and collaborating with others to achieve the Expert Group goals. The experts will familiarise themselves with the implementation in Eclipse Tractus-X and the respective standards and KITs. They attend meetings, participate in discussions, and contribute to the planning and execution of tasks. An Expert Group Member is responsible for taking hands-on actions by actively contributing to the development of standards, KITs, and/or reference implementations.

Expert Group Responsibilities​

1. Roadmap Preparation​

  • Prepare a roadmap for the expert group, including features, newly proposed Catena-X standards or changes to existing standards, and Keep It Together (KITs).
  • Communicate and discuss the roadmap with the assigned committee and reviewer group.

2. Refinement and Tracking​

  • Lead the feature refinement process for the expert group.
  • Discuss and present Git issues and standardization requests during Open Planning and lead dependency planning.
  • Track the development of features throughout the Catena-X release.
  • Regularly update the committee and reviewer group on the status during the release.
  • Update Git issues for the planned features and KIT changes in sig-release.

3. Project Management and Communication​

  • Prepare open planning during the refinement phase.
  • Maintain regular synchronization with the committee and reviewer group during refinement.
  • Create Git issues for planned features and KIT changes in the sig-release repository with appropriate labeling (e.g., EG, prep PIx).
  • Create standardization or change requests using the Houston tool.

4. Quality Assurance and Presentation​

  • Ensure that confirmed sig-release Git issues are incorporated into feature backlogs.
  • Oversee the testing and documentation of new features.
  • Present features in the Catena-X release review.
  • Ensure the creation or adaptation of Catena-X standards and address feedback from TC4S or other reviewers.

5. Testing​

  • Create (in feature and also in jira/y-ray) testcases which fit to your requirements during refinement.
  • Exceute your testcases after implementaion.
  • Review the developed results and check if they fit your requirements.