Technology Transfer Partners (TTP)
Background
The TTP is an international group of individuals from schools, colleges, and universities that use Micro Focus technology in their IT implementations. The TTP was started in the mid-1980s with three universities whose goal was to share their networking experiences among themselves, and with the company, in order to leverage the knowledge of their diverse computing environments and give feedback to product teams. It has now grown to be a comprehensive group of thousands of experienced education customers who share information with each other, the software developers and groups within the company. TTP members have considerable input into the company software development processes.
The primary goals of the TTP group are as follows:
- Share successes and failures so others can learn from those experiences.
- Solicit information and constructive assistance from other members with similar software usage for best practices and recommended configurations.
- Network among peers to foster mutually beneficial working relationships.
- Mentor and serve as examples to other members through the discussion lists, the annual regional TTP conferences and marketing materials such as white papers, success stories or articles for the TTP website.
- Provide feedback to software development teams on product roadmaps, patch development, bug reports and resolutions, and solutions.
- Help the company to understand customers' needs and identify business opportunities.
- Provide feedback to business units to meet the needs of the academic community in licensing programs, marketing, technical support, etc.
Membership and Confidentiality
TTP discussions are generally of either a highly technical or very strategic nature and membership would, therefore, be of particular interest to senior IT staff as well as very technical staff. Management staff (e.g. CIO level) who plan strategy can find the group useful to help determine the trends within similar organizations.
Members are urged to share information on the TTP mailing list, not just monitor messages. The group benefits from members who contribute and help others learn from that.
Joining the TTP requires filling out the registration form and digitally signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Once approved an applicant will be added to the group and be able to access the variety of resources and meetings of the TTP. Candidness and confidentiality are important so that all parties can discuss a variety of often sensitive issues without public exposure. The NDA requires such information and resources not be conveyed beyond the member's own institution except to other TTP members. Within the institution TTP information and resources should be handled with due care and professional discretion so that the institution as a whole may benefit. . This also means asking colleagues to adhere to these same rules of confidentiality. Other TTP sites follow these rules to protect your offerings to the group. For full benefit it is recommended that interested colleagues also apply for TTP membership. If a member exceeds these rules of good conduct then the NDA obligation may come into force and membership in the TTP may be terminated.
TTP Advisory Board
An Advisory Board has been created from the TTP membership and is reviewed regularly to make sure it is representative of the membership as a whole. The most visible role of the Advisory Board is to help construct the agenda for the regional TTP conferences. They also help in conducting the conferences and coordinating member presentations. In addition, the Advisory Board members represent the TTP members in providing feedback to specific company teams as the needs arise. The Advisory Board has a group of people who actively monitor the discussion lists and pass significant issues and findings back and forth between the list and product managers and developers. The TTP organization is sponsored with a designated manager assigned to monitor the needs of the group. The TTP Advisory Board works with this manager to organize the resources available to the TTP members.
Regional Annual Conferences
The primary annual conference is a five day event consisting of formal presentations and workshops—most of which are highly technical—as well as round-table discussions, training and informal opportunities to network, solve problems and improve products. Much of the material presented is made available under NDA—which covers the whole event. This conference normally takes place in Provo in July each year. Secondary annual conferences are held in Europe around Easter time and in Asia/Pacific just before Christmas.
Additional regional events are planned throughout the year. Members may attend any of the TTP meetings but are encouraged to support their regional event in order to be able to network with more of their colleagues and similarly structured organizations.
Other Benefits
The main benefit of belonging to the group is the membership of the community and the self-help resource that this can provide. As a member of the TTP you will have access to restricted areas of the TTP web pages intended solely for the partner community including product and learning collateral.
How do I join the TTP?
Simply follow the link below and complete the form, linking yourself with an institution currently on the list or add your site if it is not on the list. Please don't forget to complete the profile information as this can be very useful for other sites to find people who are using similar technologies.
Once you have submitted the application form it will be forwarded for approval and you will under normal circumstances be added to the group within 48 hours and sent an appropriate welcome email.
Questions
People who join the TTP find it extremely useful and I hope you will take this opportunity to join up today. If you have any questions concerning the group or the processes involved please email Peter Atkins using patkins@microfocus.com.