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WorkshopInformation Models in Software Projects

peter.tallungs@objectware.se

What is an Information Model?

• Model = An abstract description of something from a specific viewpoint and for a specific purpose.

• Information Model = A model of the things that the business needs to handle information about

• Requirements on an Information Modelling Technique: Has to be versatile and powerful:

– accommodate a lot of information (semantics, rules, requirements, issues…)– communicate clearly (understandable for all stakeholders)– double as concept model (contain definition of concepts, and terms)– serve the document work process (function as a work document and work area)– serve the change process (as-is/ next step/ to-be)– serve the software development process (business analysis, analysis of legacy

applications, software requirements, software analysis/design, software documentation)– serve all kinds of software development (new development, further development,

maintenance, acquiring of standard packages, implementation and adaptation of standard packages)

– serve both operational and analytical software applications (Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence).

– serve not only software projects but also enterprise wide projects: enterprise architecture integration projects etcetera.

Information Models in different contexts

Basically two different contexts (different reach):

• Software application projects (typically software development projects)

• Enterprise wide work (enterprise architecture, information architecture, integration architecture, information resource management, information quality programs etcetera)

My approach: ”Rich information models”

• To its base structure a common (conceptual) Data Model (ER diagram/ object model/ class diagram).

• Updated in the following way:

– Both graph and text.– All kinds of graphs needed (ER/class diagrams, instance diagrams, state

charts, informal diagrams).

– With inspiration from:• Edward Tufte (how to communicate with graphics)• John Zachman (what enterprise architecture is all about)• Ron Ross, Barbara von Halle (how to handle rules)• Grame Simsion, Dave Hay (about data modelling)• Terry Halpin (fact based modelling)• Martin Fowler (analysis patterns)• Scott W Ambler (Agile Modelling: how to manage real work conditions)• Eric Evans (Domain Driven Design: the model is a shared language)• Ralph Kimball (what information architecture serves analytical information

processing)• Concept Modelling (what is a concept and what is language)• Michael H. Bracket (How to Manage Data Quality)

- Many graphs

- Different kinds of graphs

- Structured texts

- Graphs and texts integrated

Edward R Tufte

Three books about visual communication:- The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (1992/2001), ISBN: 096139214- Envisioning Information (1990) ISBN: 0961392118 - Visual Explanations (1997) ISBN: 0961392126

Edward R Tufte, professor of statistics, graphical design and political economy at Yale.

John Zachman

John Zachman,

The founder of the Zachman Framework

Business Rules Community

Ronald G. Ross

Barbara von Halle

2003, ISBN: 0201788934

2001, ISBN: 0471412937

"Rules are a first-class citizen of the requirements world." "Rules build on facts, and facts build on concepts as expressed by terms."

Graeme Simsion

Graeme Simsion

2004 (3rd ed) , ISBN: 0126445516

" Data Modelling is design,not analysis"

Terry Halpin and Object Role Modelling

Terry Halpin 2001 ISBN: 1558606726

Martin Fowler

Martin Fowler

1996 ISBN: 0201895420

Reusable patterns for Business Modelling .

Higher level patterns than what is called Design Patterns. Deals with businesses.

Examples:

- Organizational structures and accountabilities.

- Accounting- Trading- Observations and Measurements

Dave C. Hay

Dave C. Hay

1996 ISBN: 0201895420

1995, ISBN: 0932633293

Scott W Ambler: Agile Modelling

Scott W Ambler 2002, ISBN 0471202827

Agile Modelling:

Strategies and tactics for modelling:

- How to deliver value and how to get effective feedback.

- Part of the Agile movement.

- Based on the same values as the other Agile methods.

Eric Evans: Domain-Driven Design

Eric Evans 2003, ISBN: 0321125215

Domain-Driven Design

- Uses examples from classic OO (Domain model manifested by program code).- Also applicable when the domain model is manifested in data base.

- Wisdoms about modelling in relation to its context and environment.

Ralph Kimball

Ralph Kimball 2002 (2nd ed),

ISBN: 0471200247

1998, ISBN: 0471255475 Contains two important subjects:

- Dimension Modelling (How to model information for analytical processing)

- Data Warehouse Bus (How to create a shared information architecture for analytical processing)

Concept Modelling

Course: Advanced Concept Analysis with modelling, 2 days

Concept modelling is an important tool in the toolbox, an integral part of the information modelling.

”cat”

The idea

Reality

gives origin to

refers to

used for communicating about

Concept

Occurrence Term

The Ogden triangle

Michael H Bracket

2000 ISBN: 0201713063

Michael H. Brackett

Describes problems organizations face today:-The data is not readily known and described.-In case descriptions exist, they are not readily accessible.

- The responsibility for the data is unclear.

How do we come to grips with this?