NU Online News Service, Dec.2, 12:36 p.m. EST

ACORD announced it has received another contribution from IBM to help the insurance industry's standards organization develop the ACORD Framework Information Model.

The recent donation from IBM consists of the Insurance Application Architecture Business Object/Data Model and the IAA Product Specification Diagram (PSD) notation. Both were developed by IBM in collaboration with insurance companies around the world. The IAA model has been licensed by more than 200 insurers worldwide.

The donations have allowed ACORD to create an industry-owned information model, according to John Kellington, senior vice president of ACORD.

"Both IBM's IAA model and ACORD's Information Model are excellent representations of the insurance industry information," said Mr. Kellington. "However, having one model which is available for all industry participants will provide a single focus for the industry participants."

IBM's donation will bring 20 years of industry expertise in model development to the project and will allow ACORD, Prima Solutions, IBM and other industry members the opportunity to consolidate the two models.

Initial analysis of the two models has shown they are more alike than different, according to Frank Neugebauer, chief technology officer for ACORD.

The focus for industry participants will go from deciding which model to use to how best to implement the ACORD Information Model, said Mr. Neugebauer. ACORD will document all changes and provide that information to members.

Mark Lewis, global insurance industry general manager at IBM, said he believes the ACORD Framework models will give insurers a flexible set of industry-developed assets to help accelerate the global adoption of key industry concepts.

Collaboratively aligning these products will increase the value IAA can deliver to the industry and is consistent with IBM's strategy of fostering open standards organizations to create growth and innovation, added Mr. Lewis.

The ACORD Information Model's development began with the donation of Prima Solutions' information model.
Hugues Delannoy, president and chief executive officer of Prima, said he believes both technology and industry-specific standards are essential if companies are to solve collaboration and integration problems.

"The development of new and enhanced assets by ACORD provides game-changing opportunities for the insurance industry," he remarked. "This is why we support ACORD's activities and were proud to contribute our model. We have also been happy to assist ACORD with training and education so people can fully understand and take advantage of the model."

The Information Model plays a central role in the ACORD Framework--five interrelated models that can be used to develop consistent standards regardless of type, geography or line of business. The facets are: a Business Dictionary, a Capability Model with Process Maps, a Component Model with Service Maps, and a Data Model. The Information Model provides the relationships among insurance concepts.

ACORD said it accepts intellectual property contributions from member companies on behalf of the industry to further enhance and expand ACORD standards.

Robert Regis Hyle is associate editor at Tech Decisions for Insurance, part of Summit Business Media's P&C Magazine Group, which includes National Underwriter.)

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