How Do I Start a New Group?
At SNIA, members collaborate through two primary types of groups: Technical Work Groups (TWGs) and Communities.
While both support SNIA’s mission to advance and standardize data technologies, they serve different but complementary roles.
What are the differences in the
two primary groups?
Technical Work Groups (TWGs)
SNIA Technical Work Groups are where technical development happens. TWGs collaborate to create and evolve vendor-neutral architectures, standards, specifications, and supporting software related to storage and handling and optimizing infrastructure for data. Participants work directly on defining technical requirements, developing standards, and shaping the technologies that drive the industry forward.
TWGs are ideal for members who want to influence the direction of standards, gain deep technical expertise, and actively contribute to the creation and maintenance of SNIA Standards.
SNIA Communities
SNIA Communities are focused on education, outreach, and technology awareness. Communities develop and deliver vendor-neutral webinars, podcasts, blogs, events, speaking engagements, and industry content around specific technology areas. They help evangelize technical work into practical knowledge shared broadly across the industry.
Communities are ideal for members who want to promote specific technologies, enourage adoption, support collaboration, and build engagement around technologies that are often aligned with work happening within SNIA Technical Work Groups.
Once you have decided whether a TWG or Community is right for you, you can begin the process of forming a new group. Here are the steps:
1. Submit a New Group Proposal
- Champion submits a formal proposal outlining scope, goals, and industry need
- Leadership reviews for alignment, overlap, and readiness
- Feedback provided and proposal refined as needed
2. Provisional Group Approved
- Group is granted provisional status to develop a charter
- Interim leadership is assigned
- Charter is refined and operating model defined
- Group is promoted to SNIA membership to recruit participants
3. Formal Approval & Work Begins
- Final charter and program of work submitted
- SNIA Technical Council or SNIA Board review and approve official TWG or Community
- Meetings and technical work begin
- Outreach to companies and stakeholders who could benefit from participating in the group’s work