Should an XML vocabulary be a Swiss Army Knife or a dedicatedappliance?

["Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>]

Hi Folks,

A few weeks ago we discussed what's involved in creating an XML vocabulary. One of the key points that I gained from that discussion is: 

    Create an XML vocabulary to satisfy a 
    business process; otherwise, what's the point.

Excellent. 

But what about two business processes that are the same at a high level, but vary in the details; should there be one XML vocabulary or two?


EXAMPLE: LOCAL MOVING COMPANY & FEDEX

At a high level both a local moving company and Fedex are the same - they both move merchandise from point A to point B; they both provide a way to track the status of the merchandise.

At the detail level they have significant differences - the local moving company can move the contents of an entire home whereas Fedex primarily moves smaller items; the local moving company uses big trucks to move the merchandise whereas Fedex uses airplanes; the local moving company operates within a 50 mile radius whereas Fedex operates worldwide. 

Here are two approaches to developing an XML vocabulary for the local moving company and Fedex:


APPROACH #1: Create Separate XML Vocabularies 

This approach takes the attitude that these are really two business processes, so create two XML vocabularies - one for the local moving company and one for Fedex.

Advantage: it's simpler to generate the XML vocabularies. The two companies won't be arguing about the XML vocabulary.

Disadvantage: it will be more difficult for the local moving company and Fedex to interoperate. Suppose that the local moving company subcontracts with Fedex to do certain jobs; since the XML vocabularies are disjoint it will be difficult to interoperate.

This approach is analogous to creating dedicated appliances.


APPROACH #2: Create One XML Vocabulary with Specialized Sections 

This approach takes the attitude that it's really just one business process containing specialized sections.

Advantage: it will be easier for the local moving company and Fedex to interoperate since they share the same high level framework.

Disadvantage: the XML vocabulary is more complex. The two companies will argue about the XML vocabulary.

This approach is analogous to creating a Swiss Army Knife.


RECOMMENDATION?

Which approach do you recommend? Perhaps there's another approach that you recommend?


/Roger