Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.

Lecture Notes in Informatics


Enterprise modelling and information systems architectures (EMISA 2013) P-222, 149-162 (2013).

Gesellschaft für Informatik, Bonn
2013


Copyright © Gesellschaft für Informatik, Bonn

Contents

On the cognitive understanding of types in modeling languages

Dirk Van Der Linden and Henderik Proper

Abstract


We investigate how enterprise modelers see common types (e.g., actor, event, process) used in most modeling languages in terms of their semantic feature structure (e.g., is human, is material). We hypothesize that modelers have specific interpretations for some of these common types that affect their range of conceptually valid instantiations (e.g., actors should not be instantiated as human things). Based on two exploratory psychometric studies performed with enterprise modeling practitioners and computing science students we discuss the way these typical interpretations affect their $model(ing)$ semantics (e.g., results typically having to be modeled as well-described and non-natural entities, restrictions typically as logical necessities), and what consequences these findings have for modeling languages and the use and creation of models themselves, especially in an inherently collaborative effort like enterprise modeling. We conclude by arguing that insights into these conceptualizations are likely useful and should receive more attention and studies.


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Gesellschaft für Informatik, Bonn
ISBN 978-3-88579-616-9


Last changed 12.03.2014 15:22:37