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Governance

Learn about the Commerce Operations Foundation's governance structure, leadership, and decision-making processes.

Vendor-Neutral Governance

The Commerce Operations Foundation operates under a transparent, vendor-neutral governance model designed to ensure that no single organization controls the direction of our standards. Our structure balances technical excellence with broad industry representation.

Governance Structure

Board of Directors

The Board provides strategic oversight and ensures the Foundation operates in the best interests of the entire commerce ecosystem.

Composition:

  • 5 Founding Member representatives
  • 2 Supporting Member representatives
  • 1 Community representative
  • 1 Independent technical advisor

Responsibilities:

  • Set strategic direction and priorities
  • Approve annual budget and major initiatives
  • Oversee executive leadership
  • Ensure vendor neutrality

Technical Steering Committee

The TSC provides technical leadership for all Foundation standards and specifications.

Composition:

  • Technical representatives from member organizations
  • Independent technical experts
  • Working group chairs

Responsibilities:

  • Define technical roadmap
  • Review and approve specifications
  • Ensure technical quality and consistency
  • Coordinate between working groups

Working Groups

Focused teams that develop specific standards and technical deliverables.

Current Working Groups:

  • Core UOIS Specification: Defining the standard itself
  • Implementation & Testing: Reference implementations and validation
  • Security & Compliance: Enterprise requirements and best practices
  • Developer Experience: Documentation, tools, and education

Decision Making Process

Consensus-Driven

We strive for consensus in all technical decisions. When consensus isn’t possible, we use structured voting with appropriate representation from different stakeholder groups.

Transparent Process

  • All working group meetings are documented
  • Technical discussions happen in public forums
  • Decision rationale is clearly documented
  • Regular community updates

Appeal Process

Any member can appeal technical decisions through a formal process that ensures fair consideration of alternative viewpoints.

Current Leadership

Interim Board

As we establish the Foundation, an interim board guides our initial development

  • Chair: [To be appointed] - Representing the broader commerce ecosystem
  • Technical Lead: [To be appointed] - Ensuring technical excellence
  • Industry Representative: [To be appointed] - Connecting with existing standards bodies

Technical Leadership

Technical experts guiding our standards development

  • UOIS Specification Lead: [To be appointed]
  • Architecture Committee Chair: [To be appointed]
  • Implementation Working Group Chair: [To be appointed]

We are actively recruiting leadership from across the industry. Interested in a leadership role? Contact us.

Principles

Vendor Neutrality

No single vendor or technology provider controls Foundation decisions. Our governance ensures balanced representation across the ecosystem.

Transparency

All governance processes are documented and open. Technical discussions happen in public, and decision-making rationale is clearly communicated.

Technical Excellence

Standards decisions are based on technical merit, real-world feasibility, and long-term sustainability rather than political considerations.

Industry Alignment

We work with existing standards bodies and industry organizations to ensure our work complements rather than competes with established efforts.

Evolution

Our governance structure is designed to evolve as the Foundation grows, while maintaining our core principles of neutrality and transparency.

Participation

How to Get Involved

  • Join a Working Group: Contribute to technical development
  • Attend Board Meetings: Board meetings are open to all members
  • Provide Feedback: Comment on specifications during public review periods
  • Nominate Leadership: Suggest candidates for technical and governance roles

Meeting Schedule

  • Board Meetings: Quarterly, with annual strategy session
  • Technical Steering Committee: Monthly
  • Working Groups: Weekly during active development phases
  • Community Calls: Monthly open calls for all stakeholders

Intellectual Property

Patent Policy

The Foundation operates under a patent-friendly policy that ensures implementations of our standards are free from patent encumbrance.

All Foundation specifications are published under open licenses that enable free implementation while protecting the integrity of the standards.

Trademark

The Foundation maintains trademarks on key terms to ensure consistency and prevent confusion in the marketplace.

Contact

For questions about governance, leadership opportunities, or participation:

The Commerce Operations Foundation governance model is designed to evolve with our community while maintaining the transparency and vendor neutrality essential for successful open standards development.

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