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Meta-Modelling as a Means for Improved Communication and Interoperability – The Case of Frisco Petia Wohed & Birger Andersson EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto 1

Background of our work � There is terminological fuzziness in IS engineering � To address this frameworks has been developed � Frisco (Framework for information systems concepts) � BWW (Bunge Wand & Weber) model � The goal: To provide a coherent system of concepts � Support communication between stakeholders � Facilitate interoperability among systems � Be beneficial for RE, reusability and reliability within the IS development process 2 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Assumptions and approaches � Basic assumption: � graphical representation considerably facilitates the comprehension of a framework (for people non skilled in formal notations). � Rosemann and Green have developed a graphical meta-model for BWW models � Rosemann, M., Green, P.,: Developing a meta model for the Bunge-Wand Weber ontological constructs. Information Systems 27 (2202) 75-91 � We propose a graphical meta-model for Frisco 3 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Frisco Concept Set Definition Description Z Thing primitive Any part of a conception of a domain � Fundamental Relationship R R = {r ∈ Z |r ⊆ U ∧ U = A thing composed of { 〈 q,p 〉 |q,p ∈ Z } ∧ 1=|r| < several predicted ∞ } things, each one layer associated with one predictor Concept Set Definition Description T T = {t ∈ R | ∃ s a ∈ CZ [t = Transition b , s A binary relationship characterizing the { 〈 s b ,before 〉 , 〈 s a ,after 〉 } ∧ s b ≠ s between two different a ]} role of the predicted composite things, called � Actor, action thing within the pre- state and post - state of relationship the transition P P = {p ∈ Z | ∃ u ∈ U , q ∈ S S = {s ∈ CZ \ T | ∃ t ∈ T [s ∈ Predictor State An atomic thing used A composite thing 3 ]} involved as a pre - state or Predthingin( to characterize or t) Z [u = and actands post- state in a transistion. 〈 q,p 〉 ]} qualify other things Concept Set Definition Description No element of a state may Q = {q ∈ Z | ∃ u ∈ U , p ∈ N N = {t ∈ T | ∃ q ∈ Q , ∃ r ∈ R [r = Q Action A transition involving a Predicted The thing being be a transition itself { 〈 q,performing 〉 , 〈 t,performed non- empty set of actors ST 1 → s 3 → s State- A transition which is either - thing If t x :s charact erized or 2 , t y : s 4 are P [u = layer 4 ]} by 〉 } ∧ q ∈ Prestateof(t) transition a Sequence, a Choice or a transitions then 〈 q,p 〉 ]} qualified by a CN 3 ⊆ s CN = ST ∩ N Composite A composite transition structure Sequence: sequ(t x , t y ) if s Concurrency predictor 2 action 1 ∩ s 3 ≠∅ with the same condition as Choice: choice(t x , t y ) if s SM SM = {sm ∈ R |sm = Set A binary relationship applying for the notion of Concurrency: concur(t x ,t y ) if { 〈 q 1 ,has- element 〉 , 〈 q membership 1 ∩ s between a thing (the 3 = ∅ 2 ,is- action s � System O = {q ∈ Q | ∃ n ∈ N [q ∈ O element-of 〉 } ∧ q 1 , q 2 ∈ Q CT = ST ∩ T set) characterized by Actor A thing able to cause CT Composite A state transition structure 5 ]} transition Actorof(n) ∧ q 1 ≠ q 2 } transition a special predictor with unique pre - and post - D D = {z ∈ Z | ∃ n ∈ N [z ∈ Actand A thing involved in the states called ´has- element´ 7 ∨ z ∈ 1 → s pre- state or post - state of an Transition A specific occurrence of a concepts layer A transition t:s 2 is enabled Inputof(n) and another thing 1 ⊆ s. action and not considered occurrence transition 6 ]} to occur in state s if s Outputof(n) charactrerized by a 1 → as an actor of that action If a transition t:s s 2 occurs in special predictor RS = {z ∈ Z | ∃ n ∈ N [z ∈ RS Resource The union of the set of state s, then s is changed to the 4 ]} called ´is- element-of´ actors and the set of input Prestateof(n) new state � Organisational EZ EZ = {ez ∈ Z \ R | ¬∃ u ∈ s ′ = (s\s 1 ) ∪ s actands of that action Elementary A thing not being a 2 X X = {d ∈ D | ∃ n ∈ N , ∃ r ∈ R [r Action An optional part of the U [u = 〈 ez,has- element 〉 ]} The occurrence of a transition thing relationship and not context = { 〈 d,is- context 〉 } ∧ d ∈ pre- state of an action 1 ⇒ s t:s in state s leading to state being characterized 2 7 ]} qualifying the context or s ′ is denoted as occ(t ): s → s ′ Inputof(n) by the predictor ´has- situation in which that and IS ( Q ∪ CZ ) TY TY ⊆ 2 Type A specific characterization element´ action is performed, and ( Q ∪ CZ ) | ∃ ty ∈ TY Population PO PO = {po ∈ 2 applying to all things of E = EZ ∩ Q determining or modifying E Entity A predicte d thing that type [po ⊆ ty]} at least one of its output Instance which is an IN IN = {in ∈ Q ∪ CZ | ∃ ty ∈ TY actands. concepts layer elementary thing [in ∈ ty]} G G = {d ∈ D | ∃ n ∈ N , ∃ o ∈ O, Goal A special input actand of CZ Composite CZ = Z \ EZ R A non- elementary S ∪ 2 T ∃ r ∈ R [r = { 〈 d,pursued Rule R = 2 A set of permissible states that action, pursued by the - thing thing by 〉 , 〈 o,persuing 〉 } ∧ d ∈ and transitions in a actors of that action and specific context stating the desired output Inputof(n) ∧ o ∈ Actorof(n)]} state intentionally 4 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Frisco - basic concepts Thing Composite Elementary Predicated Predicator Thing Thing Thing 1 1 ^ has ^ has * * Entity Pair * ^ consists of * Set Member- Relationship ship 5 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Frisco – Fundamental layer Thing Composite Elementary Predicated Predicator Thing Thing Thing 1 1 ^ has ^ has * * Entity Pair * ^ consists of * Set Member- Relationship ship 1 < pre Transition * < of State Transition 1 < post * occurrence 1 * 1 1 * defines permissable > * ^ involves ^ consists of ^ involves Concurrency permissable * * * * Composite StateTransition Choice Rule Transition Structure Sequence 6 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

7 Frisco – Actor, Action & Actands layer EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Examples of suggested changes Def 8 An action n: s1 → s2 is enabled to be performed by an actor a in state s if s1 ⊆ s Action < of Action and a ∈ Actorof(n). If an action n: s1 → s2 is occurrence 1 * perfomed in state s, then s is changed to the new state s ′ = (s\ s1) ∪ s2. The performance of an action n: s1 ⇒ s2 by Transition < of Transition actor a in state s leading to state s ′ at time occurrence 1 * unit tu is denoted as occ(n,a,tu): s → s ′ . Def 6 Let ET = 2 ε denote the set of entity Entity < of Actor Type types. * * involves involves ^ ^ Def adj 7 Let N denote the set of all actions. Action N = { t ∈ T | ∃ q ∈ ET, ∃ r ∈ R [ r = { 〈 q,perfor- < of Action occurrence ming 〉 , 〈 t,performed_by 〉 } ∧ q ∈ Prestateof(t)] } 1 * 8 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Benefits of the work � Increase communication, understanding and use � Support analysis and further development � Further facilitate cross analysis between approaches e.g., Frisco, BWW, TOVE, EO, etc. � Used as reference framework through which modeling languages can be analyzed and compared 9 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto

Further work � To use the proposed meta-model for analysing Frisco against other alternative attempts in the area: � Top-down and well formalised frameworks such as BWW, EO, TOVE � Pragmatic, bottom-up developed attempts like UEML and Söderström. 10 EMOI, 13 June 2005, Porto