Modelling Information Systems

IAB201-1.1.2016 | Lecture | March 1, 2016

Artem Polyvyanyy
Business Process Management Discipline
Information Systems School
Science & Engineering Faculty
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, Australia

Land Development Map

IAB201 - 1.1.2016 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - March 1, 2016

3D Visualization

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Miniature Village

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House Plan

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Exemplary House

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Commonalities and Differences

What are the commonalities and
differences between the map, the 3D
visualization, the miniature village, the
house plan, and the exemplary house?
All these artefacts
represent something else
have some particular purpose in mind
reduce complexity
contain only relevant aspects
contribute to understanding of a problem
have target audience
IAB201 - 1.1.2016 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - March 1, 2016

Our Definition of a Model

A model is a simplified representation of a real world or an
envisioned phenomenon, e.g., an object, process or system,
that serves a particular purpose for a target audience.

Which phenomenon?
What to simplify?
How to represent?
For which purpose?
For which audience?
IAB201 - 1.1.2016 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - March 1, 2016

Other Models

IAB201 - 1.1.2016 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - March 1, 2016

IAB201 Agenda
Models and information systems
Models, mathematical and conceptual models, syntax, semantics, notation, pragmatics,
information systems, information systems discipline, types of information systems

Complex systems and organizational modelling

Modelling theory vs. practice, metaphors, rich pictures, architecture models, enterprise
modelling, Zachman Framework

Data and information modelling

Object-role Modelling (ORM), conceptual schema design procedure

Introductory graph theory

Graphs, networks, multigraphs, directed graphs, signed graphs, elementary concepts of
graph theory, interesting problems in graph theory

Process modelling
Basic concepts in process modelling, properties of process models, transition systems,
Petri nets, workflow nets, process analysis

Object-oriented modelling
Object-oriented modelling paradigm, object, class, class inheritance
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Objectives
Develop general skills in conceptual modelling, analytical and system thinking
Develop your foundation skills in the modelling of information systems
Develop team work
Allow you to manage the complexity of contemporary and future information
systems and the domains in which these systems are used
Allow you to develop solutions such as novel information technology
artefacts, to solve real world problems related to information systems

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Your Unit Coordinator and Lecturer

Dr. Artem Polyvyanyy
Queensland University of Technology
P Block (Level 8)
Gardens Point Campus
GPO Box 2434
Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
tel: +61 7 3138 9489
email: [email protected]
web: www.polyvyanyy.com
twitter: uartem

PhD in the scientific discipline of Computer Science

from the University of Potsdam, Germany
Teaching and research interests: Distributed and Parallel Systems,
Automata Theory, Formal Analysis, Information Systems,
Software Engineering, and Workflow Management
Published more than 40 scientific works in academic book chapters,
journal articles, and conference papers

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Our Guest Lecturers

Dr. Chun Ouyang

Senior Lecturer at the Business

Process Management Discipline
Information Systems School
[email protected]

Object-oriented Modelling
May 24, 2016
(week 12)

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Your Tutors
Tutorials start from week 2
Focus: exercises, exercises, exercises ...
Expectation: you do the exercises at home, like in the old school days,
and we discuss your solutions at the tutorials
Ms. Maduka Subasinghage

Mr. Prakash Bhandari

PhD Candidate

Lecturer

[email protected]

[email protected]

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A Glimpse at Our Research

Managing large process model repositories
(APROMORE initiative)
Workflow Management Systems
(YAWL Initiative)
Process Query Language
(PQL)
Process Model Mining & Repair
Risk-aware/Cost-aware Process
Management
Process Improvement Methodology
(Woolworths)

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5,000+ Pages

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Partners

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Communication
Lectures: Ask questions at any time!
Lecture recordings are available via
Blackboard/Tools/Lecture Recordings/ECHO360.
Tutorials: Bring your solutions to exercises
and discuss them. Ask questions about
lecture materials and/or tutorial exercises.
E-mails: Start by forwarding questions to your
tutor. Subject of your email must contain unit
code IAB201. For example: IAB201: What is a model?
If the issue is not resolved, forward it to the unit coordinator.
Consultations: If a question is not answered via e-mails then we can
schedule an individual consultation. Consultations will take place weekly
on Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm at GP-P837.
* Please make an appointment via e-mail.
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IAB201 Timetable
All lectures and tutorials will take place at the Gardens Point campus.
Tutorials start from week 2!
Time

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

11am

S408 (TUTORIAL)

P506A (TUTORIAL)

12am

P413A (TUTORIAL)

9am
10am

1pm

P837 (CONSULT.)

2pm

S408 (TUTORIAL)

3pm

B117 (LECTURE)

4pm

B117 (LECTURE)

5pm

P413A (TUTORIAL)

P837 (CONSULT.)

P506A (TUTORIAL)

6pm

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Assessment Items
Assignment 1 (Weight: 30%)
Develop a set of models to analyse data aspects of an
information system
Based on a given case description

Assignment 2 (Weight: 30%)

Extend the set of conceptual models developed as part of
Assignment 1 to analyse process aspects of an information system
Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the conceptual modelling
paradigms employed

Written Exam (Weight: 40%)

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Assignment 1
Assessment item type

Written report

Assessment name

Developing a set of conceptual models to analyse specific

aspects of an information system.

Description

You will be asked to develop a portfolio of different

conceptual models of an information system based on a
case description provided to you.
Your portfolio will consist of models following different
paradigms that you will learn to develop on a weekly basis.

Weight

30%

Available from

End of week 4, March 25

Due date

End of week 8, April 29

Individual/group

Group assessment with individual marks

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Assignment 2
Assessment item type

Written report

Assessment name

Developing and analysing a set of interrelated conceptual

models that are jointly used to solve analysis and design
problems related to a complex information system.

Description

You will be asked to produce a written report that

demonstrates your ability to apply essential modelling skills in
the analysis of the shortcomings of an existing information
system and the design of an improved information system
based on a real-world case study.
You will also be asked to compare and discuss relative
strengths and weaknesses of the conceptual modelling
paradigms employed.

Weight

30%

Available from

End of week 8, April 29

Due date

End of week 12, May 27

Individual/group

Individual

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Written Exam
Assessment item type Written exam
Assessment name

Written theory-based exam

Description

You will be asked to sit an individual written exam in which you

will need to demonstrate your understanding of the units
theoretical and practical contents as taught in the lecture,
tutorials and assignments.

Weight

40%

Due date

Exam period

Individual/group

Individual

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Complex
systems and
organizational
modelling

Models and
information
systems

Introductory
graph theory

Object-oriented modelling

Data and information

modelling

Model quality

Process modelling

Recap of IAB201

IAB201 Timeline

Lectures (weeks 1-13)

`

10

11

12

13

Tutorials (weeks 2-13)

Assignment 1
(weeks 5-8)

Assignment 2
(weeks 9-12)

Pulse
survey
(w 4-5)
IAB201 - 1.1.2016 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - March 1, 2016

Insight survey
(opens at the end of
the teaching period)
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IAB201 Blackboard Page

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Lets Get Back to Models

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Modelling Language
Modelling language is any language that
can be used to express models.
Language is a system of communication used by humans
Modelling grammar describes the system and structure of the modelling
language and is composed of a syntax, semantics and notation.
Modelling languages can be used to specify system requirements,
structures and behaviors.
A modeling language can be graphical or textual
Some modelling languages are executable

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Syntax
Syntax of a modelling language provides the constructs and
the set of rules to combine these constructs into model statements.
From Ancient Greek - syn-, together, and txis, an ordering
Relates the model to the modelling language
Describes relations among language constructs without considering their meaning
English grammar: The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements:
the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past
participle of the main verb.

I have enrolled in a unit.

I has enrolled in a unit.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
adjective adjective noun

verb

adverb

Furiously sleep ideas green colorless.

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Semantics
Semantics of a model (statement) explains the relations between
the constructs and what these constructs stand for, their meaning.
from Ancient Greek (semantikos), significant, from
(semaino), to signify, to indicate and (sema), sign, mark, token
Explains meaning of constructs, model statements and models
Relates the model to the domain

Denotation vs. connotation

Denotation is a translation of a sign (a construct) to its literal meaning
Connotation is a translation of a sign (a construct) to meanings associated with it

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Notation
Notation of a modelling language defines the symbols for the
representation of the constructs and their relationships.
Textual symbols: A B C D E F G H I G
Graphical symbols:

Redundancy vs. overload

Redundancy is observed when alternative symbols refer
to the same construct
Overload is observed when the same symbol refers to
different constructs

Time flies like an arrow.

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Pragmatics
Pragmatics studies the ways in which context contributes to the
meaning of a model (statement).
from Ancient Greek (pragmatikos), fit for action, from
(pragma), deed, act, and (prass), "to pass over, to practise, to achieve"
Is concerned with how the audience interprets the model statements
Relates the model to the audience interpretation

"You have a green light."

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Can you understand this diagram?

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House Plan: Syntax, Semantics, Notation

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Mathematical Model
A mathematical model is a model
captured using mathematical
concepts and language.
The success of a mathematical model depends on:
How easily it can be used
How accurately it predicts
How well it explains the phenomenon
being studied

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Mathematical Model An Example

You own a rather exclusive golf course in the country, and you are trying to
decide what you should charge for a round of golf. You decide to try an
experiment. You charge $11.75 one day and 50 golfers play that day. When
you charge $11.00, a total of 100 people pay to play golf. When you charge
$9.75, the number of golfers totals 150.

What mathematical model would represent this situation?

[Gary Chartrand]

One may observe that for the number of people x = 50, 100, 150, the price p
which is being charged is given by

p = 12 0.0001x 2
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Conceptual Model
A conceptual model is a model
captured in terms of integrated ideas
and concepts.
A mental model of how things in our
surrounding environment work
Developed based on information received
through scientific data and observations
No guarantee that it corresponds to
anything that actually can exist

A concept is a mental representation

of an object, process or system
[http://wiki.spdx.org]

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Recommended Reading

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Recommended Reading
Terry Halpin and Tony Morgan

Information Modeling and

Relational Databases
Series: The Morgan Kaufmann Series
in Data Management Systems
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 2 edition
Year: 2008
ISBN-10: 0123735688
ISBN-13: 978-0123735683

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Recommended Reading
Gary Chartrand

Introductory Graph Theory

Series: Dover Books on Mathematics
Publisher: Dover Publications
Year: 1984
ISBN-10: 0486247759
ISBN-13: 978-0486247755

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Recommended Reading
Mathias Weske

Business Process Management:

Concepts, Languages,
Architectures
Publisher: Springer; 2nd ed.
Year: 2012
ISBN-10: 3642286151
ISBN-13: 978-3642286155

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Recommended Reading
Grady Booch, Robert A. Maksimchuk,
Michael W. Engle, Bobbi J. Young, Jim Conallen,
and Kelli A. Houston

Object-Oriented Analysis and

Design with Applications
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 3 edition
Year: 2007
ISBN-10: 020189551X
ISBN-13: 978-0201895513

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My First Model
You and your partner have received in the mail a brochure which advertises a new
land development near your city, including private houses, apartment complexes,
and shopping areas. The brochure shows a map of this area. You have been
considering buying an apartment for a long time. Thus, with the aid of the map,
you and your partner drive to the apartment complex. This drive turns out to be
more difficult than anticipated since all the roads leading into the area are dirt
roads and very bumpy. You arrive at the office of the apartment complex, and in
the middle of the room there is a large table displaying a miniature model of the
entire complex. This allows you to see the location of the apartment buildings as
well as the office, the swimming pool, the roads, and the childrens play area.
Although all the apartments available are unfurnished, the office has organized an
exemplary apartment a furnished apartment to help you determine its
appearance once you moved in. After visiting this furnished apartment and a short
discussion with your partner you decide to buy an apartment in this new complex.

[adapted from Gary Chartrand]

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IAB201 - 2.2.2015 | Modelling Information Systems | Brisbane - July 27, 2015

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Dr. Artem Polyvyanyy

Lecturer
Business Process Management Discipline
Information Systems School
Science and Engineering Faculty
Queensland University of Technology
P Block (Level 8)
Gardens Point Campus
GPO Box 2434
Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
phone: +61 (0)7 3138-9489
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.polyvyanyy.com
twitter: uartem

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