Systems Integration Facilitation (SIF)

September 2024

The complexity of technologies and their convergence in many new and emerging markets now requires a top-down approach to standardization, starting with a system or system architecture, rather than a product. Increasingly, sectors such as environment, energy, safety, and health need system standards.

The Systems Integration Facilitation (SIF) group was initially established as a JAG permanent Subgroup during the 2016 JAG Paris, France meeting under the following mission:

The JAG-SIF subgroup acts in the capacity of facilitator as described in the JTC 1 Systems Integration Guidelines, Standing Document 24.

The objective of Facilitation is to make JTC 1 Systems Integration more efficient.

A Facilitator should represent the JTC 1 Advisory group at the JTC 1 Systems Integration entity meetings of the Systems Integration topic.

Upon creation, the SIF group was composed of ten participants across Geos.

SIF Facilitators role and expectations had to be written from scratch therefore some template reports and internal guidance were created by the AG 14 members to support their facilitation exercise. The three key aspects of a facilitation can be summarized as follows:

  1. Note any conflicts across the systems integration topic.
  2. Report best practices.
  3. Provide recommendations to JTC 1 of any actions with respect to systems integration.

In November 2018 under Resolution 9, JTC 1 established the JTC 1 Advisory Group on Systems Integration Facilitation (SIF) with the following Terms of Reference:

  1. Advise JTC 1 on the evolution of the JTC 1 Standing Document 24, Systems Integration Standardization Guidelines;
  2. Appoint its members to attend the System Integration entity’s meetings to fulfil the role of facilitator as described in the JTC 1 Standing Document 24, Systems Integration Standardization Guidelines;
  3. Meet as needed to coordinate its activities.

In parallel to this renaming, the SIF group conducted a survey in 2019 to reflect and assess the benefit of the provided support but more importantly to look for areas of improvement in order to pursue its facilitation missions. The outcome of this survey confirmed the pertinence of having an AG 14 in place and pointed out the necessity for AG 14 to constantly reinforce the need for collaboration and to continue providing guidance, especially to newly formed SIE structure such as WGs.

Since its creation, AG 14 SIF has and will continue to cover the activities of eight designated Systems Integration Entities (SIEs).:

  • SC 38: Cloud computing and distributed platforms
  • SC 41: IoT and related technologies
  • SC 42: Artificial intelligence
  • SC 43: Brain Computer Interface
  • WG 11: Smart cities
  • WG 12: 3D printing and scanning
  • WG 13: Trustworthiness
  • WG 14: Quantum information technology

Some key achievements since 2016:

  • Secured the participation of 5 to 7 SIF members since its creation.
  • Over 30 facilitations of JTC 1 entities since its creation
  • More than 27 recommendations made to JTC 1 to reinforce best practice and improve relationships between stakeholders. The most notable recommendation was to highlight a need for a coordination on Trustworthiness which further led to the creation by JTC 1 of WG 13 Trustworthiness.
  • The SD 24 JTC 1 Systems Integration Standardization Guidelines was updated in 2022 to reflect current practice.
  • Emphasis on the need for Liaison representatives and clarification of their roles

AG 14 SIF has consistently highlighted that WG 11 is the longest-standing Working Group entity along with its associated constraints and stressed the need to prioritize efforts towards attaining Sub-committee status. Meanwhile, the approval process for SC 44 Information Technology for Smart Cities is still ongoing.

AG 14 SIF is delighted to serve and support SIEs with dedication and excellence, making their success our top priority. AG 14 SIF relies on the commitment of human resources and the kindness of individuals in providing support to SIEs and expresses its sincere appreciation to its members and those associated with the relevant SIEs.