DBTG, or the Database Task Group, was established in the 1970s to develop standards for database management systems. It aimed to create a more efficient way to organize and access data, leading to the development of the CODASYL model, which introduced the concept of network databases. The DBTG's work laid the foundation for modern database systems by promoting the idea of data independence and structured data management. This approach influenced later database models, including the relational database model, which is widely used today in various applications and industries.