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GENERAL INFORMATION
GI A50.1
Oct 83
=::-:. ~~E: OTHER MARKETING ACTIVITY Major Revision
USER GROUPS SHARE Program Library Agency
NATIONAL USER GROUPS TUCC
P.O. Box 12076
User groups are autonomous organizations, composed of IBM Research Triangle Park
customers. All administrative and organizational matters pertaining to North Carolina 27709
these organizations, as well as their periodic meetings, are under their (919) 549-0671 (Ext: 283)
own jurisdiction.
SHARE members have access to comrlete information on the
They provide a great deal of information to their members, e)(change SHARE Program Library in the SHARE Reference Manual.
technical ideas and documentation, and work with IBM to ensure better
user products. 'GUIDE'
The major system-oriented national user groups are SHARE, GUIDE, This group is an international organization organized in 1956 by users
and COMMON. of the IBM 705 and now includes System/360 Model 40 and
System/370 Model 115 and higher. Although this group originally
System-Oriented Groups -- Customer Participation restricted its scope to commercially oriented users, it has broadened
its activities for all computer uses.
Each group is organized with an elected Executive Board to govern with
functional divisions (approximately seven in each) such as program- The name GUIDE is derived from 'Guidance for Users of Integrated
ming, applications, installation management, and communications as Data Processing Equipment: The principal purposes of GUIDE with
the major lines of the organization. The next subdivision is projects relations to its members are:
which are organized around specific interest areas (e.g., MVS, MPS,
IMS). The project work is the most significant activity in each of these To exchange and disseminate information of mutual interest and
groups. Project objectives and accomplishments are achieved through a value.
working relationship with IBM counterparts. To promote sound and professional EDP practices.
Each user group supports over 75 projects with numerous subcommit- The principal purposes of GUIDE with relation to the EDP industry
tees. Projects are organized according to specific technical areas, and are:
project members meet to discuss, evaluate and recommend changes as
required to IBM. To communicate to the IBM Corporation user needs in all technical
areas of interest.
Members participate in projects to:
To review, comment and exchange information on products and
Exchange information on common problems. services related to the equipment needed to qualify for GUIDE
membership. '
Get more direct information from IBM.
Provide feedback to IBM concerning desired requirements on To influence the development of computer industry standards.
products and to attempt to improve these products. GUIDE objectives are carried out by members participating in the
Use this work as a stimulus to better educate themselves. working committees operating in the group's seven divisions; i.e.,
Management and Administration, Data Center Operations, Informa-
Sponsor presentations for the regular meetings to inform the entire tion Management, Futures, Applications Systems, Operating
membership about these topics. Systems, and Languages and Standards. Its primary interest areas
have been installation management, education and programming
Major System-Oriented Groups systems studie.... The group has become activo in user's applications
'SHARE Inc.' and works closely with IBM in this area.
This international group, formed by users of the IBM 704 in 1955, is Installations meeting the GUIDE machine requirements may apply for
the oldest of the three major user organizations. Its membership is membership. Application for membership in this group should be
primarily composed of users of System/360 Model 50 or higher - sent to the Executive Assistant, GUIDE International, 111 East
and System/370 Model 138 or higher. Other IBM machine users are Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
admitted by petition. SHARE is composed of member installations The GUIDE Secretary Distribution and Meeting Proceedings can be
from a broad cross section of the computing industry including purchased; contact GUIDE.
industrial, governmental and university computing installations in
both scientific and data processing environments. 'COMMON'
Through special petition SHARE will allow product organizations as This is an international group organized in 1960 as the 1620 users
non-voting affiliates of SHARE. These organizations are companies organization. In 1965 the organization changed its name to COM-
which develop, design, manufacture or market (for profit) computer MON and concurrently opened its membership to 1130, 1800 and
hardware, software or services which enhance the SHARE CPUs. System/360 users. Membership is now open to users of many other
IBM systems. Membership is now open to System/370 (Model 135
The primary purpose of SHARE is to foster the development, free and below), System/3, and System/7 users. Users of other IBM
exchange and dissemination of information to SHARE members in systems may apply for membership by petitions to the COMMON
the best scientific tradition. These objectives are achieved through Executive Board.
the following means:
LOCAL USER GROUPS
Conducting meetings, discussion groups, forums, panels, lectures
and other similar programs concerned with the development and Some local user groups composed of IBM customers are independents
exchange of research, technological and tutorial information. while others are affiliated with the larger national non-profit organiza-
tions, GUIDE, COMMON, or SHARE. Either type provides a forum for
Publishing meeting notes, research, ideas and comments through local presentation of IBM's products and services and can assist the
its SHARE Secretary's Distribution and other publications. Making local marketing effort by providing a means for exchange of information
such publications available to the interested public for purposes of and cooperative solution of customer problems.
advancing scientific research, education and scholarship in the
public interest on a non-committal and a non-discriminatory basis.
Some organizations have been formed under the sponsorship of a third
Establishing, influencing and continually improving standards for party to exchange information, distribute programs, and, sometimes,
the computing industry. offer consolidated purchasing of non-IBM plug compatible equipment.
These organizations typically service their members with monthly
SHARE has made significant contributions to the computer industry magazines, newsletters or programs for a fee and for a profit. Their
and has worked closely with IBM in the development of specific area of interest is principally the System/3. However, local non-profit
systems. Most of the activities in SHARE are accomplished through user groups which are made up of IBM customers and are affiliated
member participation in related projects within its five operating with larger profit oriented organizations should be handled as local
divisions, i.e., Basic Systems, Communications, DB/DC, Manage- independent IBM user groups.
ment, ana Services/Applications.
Application for Membership
Customers may obtain membership information and details as to
availability of publications from the Executive Director, SHARE Inc.,
111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
The SHARE Secretary Distribution as well as Proceedings from the
major meetings can be purchased. Contact SHARE Inc.
Requests for SHARE programs and information on submitting new
programs should be sent to: