How JA-SIG Can Provide Value for Commercial Affiliates

Why does this page exist?

JA-SIG offers several membership options, including institutional memberships with a varied pricing scale depending on size of institution, and commercial affiliate memberships for commercial entities looking to business on or around JA-SIG software and community. Additionally, JA-SIG has discussed from time to time an alternative, non-voting associate level of commercial affiliation (e.g., for entities looking to support but not be involved in JA-SIG) and a very-small-commercial-affiliate "freelancer" level of membership for individuals looking to make more formal their availability to do paid side work on JA-SIG projects.

The question this page seeks to answer is, what sorts of things might JA-SIG do to convey value to these potential commercial affiliates, thereby making the membership offering compelling? It stands to reason that JA-SIG can charge commercial affiliate fees only comensurate with the value experienced by the affiliates. More value means more affiliates and more fees, which helps JA-SIG to be more sustainable as a corporation.

What does this page not address?

It's likely true that different levels of commercial affiliation would yield different subsets of available value. This page doesn't attempt to map out exactly which levels and which price points get which spiffs. In fact, this page isn't (yet?) about selecting which of the potential spiffs are appropriate or realistic. The current goal is to tease out the possibilities.

Ways JA-SIG can provide value to commercial affiliates

We love you just the way you are

JA-SIG provides some value simply by existing and doing what it does, providing an umbrella organization, structure, infrastructure, momentum, regular gatherings, etc., for this community, so that there is a community which commercial affiliates can service. It is good not to over-state this value – note that this value is particularly available to freeloaders – but this is nonetheless a real value. Commercial affiliates value being commercial affiliates because serving in this role helps JA-SIG to be sustainable.

Conferences

Commercial-friendly areas / events at conferences

Important to stay classy and a conference one would want to attend. Nonetheless, commercial affiliates might be afforded a chance to have a table or booth in a designated area, or at a particular tech demo or reception.

Sponsorship opportunities

Opportunities to sponsor receptions, program, t-shirt, underwrite conference planning fees.

Tack-on event opportunities

Opportunities to offer commercial training before or after the conference, or to tack on commercial affiliate edumarketing days.

Web presence

Listing on the web sites. Perhaps preferential listing ahead of non-commercial-affiliates. The present page listing available commercial services for CAS, for instance, is ordered alphabetically and puts the only JA-SIG Commercial Affiliate listed on that page well "below the fold".

Infrastructure

JA-SIG funds staff to support the project infrastructure, thereby lubricating the participation and effectiveness of commercial affiliates. Commercial Affiliates realize important value from the efforts of Anthony Whyte in Sakai, for instance.