Mission
The mission for the Dictionary is to develop and maintain a Dictionary that will support activities of the oil and gas industry.
Based on the discussion of Dictionary scope in the preceding section, there is a question about the kinds of data definitions that should be included. Many groups that develop data models or data transfer specifications consider it adequate to have a dictionary of data element definitions to supplement the column or attribute or element or tag names used in their work. Clearly, the mission for the Dictionary is much broader than this both in transcending types of definitions beyond data elements and in serving functionally and technologically diverse data specifications.
Dictionary Use
Much was made in the early years of the Dictionary of the notion that the Dictionary is a central source for obtaining industry-wide terminology for EDI and data model specification development, noting the use of the Dictionary in this way by PIDX, POSC, PPDM, etc. This may be historically inaccurate to a large extent, because in those years it was as much or more a case of these development efforts contributing definitions to the Dictionary than taking advice on the use of definitions from an existing Dictionary. There is not doubt that the Dictionary played a positive role in any case.
Our challenge is to find ways and means for the Dictionary initiative to remain vital and useful in the industry. It would be tempting to say that the Dictionary is complete and accurate as a central source and that the Dictionary is ready to play a prescriptive role with respect to new specification development work. This, however, would be inaccurate. The Dictionary will continue to play a dual role providing guidance to development work and obtaining new and improved input from such work. Over time, the Dictionary can satisfy a growing proportion of the needs of the industry for good definitions.