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Chapter 5: Meta Modeling Concepts Generic Frameworks I: Evaluating Methods and Tools

The document discusses different modeling concepts in information systems development, including process modeling, data modeling, and object modeling. Process modeling describes logical analysis of processes without technology details. Data modeling focuses on understanding and documenting data elements and relationships. Object modeling combines data and processes by encapsulating them into objects that represent real-world things with attributes and operations.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
58 views7 pages

Chapter 5: Meta Modeling Concepts Generic Frameworks I: Evaluating Methods and Tools

The document discusses different modeling concepts in information systems development, including process modeling, data modeling, and object modeling. Process modeling describes logical analysis of processes without technology details. Data modeling focuses on understanding and documenting data elements and relationships. Object modeling combines data and processes by encapsulating them into objects that represent real-world things with attributes and operations.

Uploaded by

Mina twice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:

EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS


Process Modeling
MODELLING
Data Modeling
Object Modeling

Modelling is another theme in modern information system development.

Model = an abstraction, a representation of part of the real world.

Abstraction view as:


 The process of stripping an idea or a system of its concrete or physical
features.
 Simplified representation of the lower level.
 Benefits -> easier development of complex applications:
o It provides a way of viewing what the model indicates are the
important aspects of a system at various levels.
 High level -> have the “essence” of the system.
* innate / nature character
 Low level -> have the detail that does not comprise that
“essence”

Information Systems there are some “natural” or “inherent level”

i. Conceptual level
 High level overview description of the Universe of Discourse (UoD).
 Example: the domain of interest for Overall IS or
Business System or
Society
ii. Logical level
 Description of the IS without any references to the technology that could be used to
implement it.
 Its scope, not concerned with modeling the UoD .

iii. Physical level


 Description of the IS including the technology of a particular implementation.

CT037-3.5-3-ISDT (Information Systems Development Trend) Page 1


CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

PROCESS MODELLING

 Structure methodologies use many techniques of process modeling.


Breaking down of a complex
O Have their unifying elements
problem into :
O Emphasis on the processes  more and more
O Basic technique -> Functional Decomposition detail
 Structured system analysis and design such as:  a discipline way
O STRADIS (Gane and Sarson Methodology)
O YSM (Yourdon Systems Methodology)
O SSADM
O Merise
 Process modeling
O Describe the logical (real-world) analysis of the process and not just their physical
(implementation) level designs.
 Clear distinction between any application logic (what a system is trying to
achieve)
 The computer representation of that logic (how the computer system achieves
it)
Can be cross-checked to Enable quality
O Documentation produced as part of the analysis.
ensure consistency in control
O System design process as deliverables analysis and design
O Give a level of data independence
 Process can change without changing computer file.
 Files can change without alter the user views of the data

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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

PROCESS MODELLING - TECHNIQUES

1) Functional decomposition
 Breaking down of a complex problem into more and more detail and a disciplined way.
 Lowest level -> the units are simple and manageable enough so that they could be reflected
in a few lines of computer program code.

 Enable people to
view the
processes at
different levels
 System analysts
and user – > high
level
 Programmer ->
low level

2) Decision Trees
 Documentation of process logic (where there are many decision alternatives)

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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

3) Decision Table
 Inbuilt verification mechanism -> to check all the conditions have been catered for.

4) Data Flow Diagram (DFD)


 Enables a system to be partitioned (or structured) into independent units of a desirable size.
So the system can be more easily understood.
 Very top level knows as context diagram
 Next level -> level 0 diagram.

5) Structured English
 “Readable” computer program

IF condition 1 (is true)


THEN action 1 (is to be carried out)
ELSE (not condition 1)
SO action 2 ( is to be carried out)
ENDIF

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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

DATA MODELLING

 This approach focus on the modeling of data Can be


o Data analysis concentrates on Understanding data achieved by
Documenting the data elements interviewing,
Their relationship study doc,
 Purpose observation
o Independent of any database
o Accurate
o Unambiguous / clear / understandable
o Complete enough for most application and users

 Result is formalizing in entity modeling / data model


o The real world information is represented
 By entities
 By relationship between entities

 Strengths:
o Data is more stable than process
 Processes are more susceptible to change than data
 Data constitute a better, more stable, basis for the design of an IS. Process
change. Example: students’ data more stable, registration process change.
o It is a model which is readily understandable by both developers and users because of it
graphical form.
o It is independent of any physical implementation (it is at a logical level)
o It does not show bias toward particular users as departmental views. The data model
can reflect a variety of different views of the data.

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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

OBJECT MODELLING

 Involves the modeling of data and processes (or functionality)


o Do not treat data and processes separately.
o Combine or encapsulates them into object. Represents something in the real
world
 Combine the “what” (the data) and the “how” (operations to be performed)
o Example:
Object -> specific student (name, address, DOB)
Operation -> register for a class

 Benefits:
i. Unify many aspects of IS Development process.
 Example:
Analysis -> use object analysis and object modeling
Design -> use object orientation as the design approach
Human-computer interface -> designed using object oriented methods
Development -> Object programming languages, object-oriented tools
Data collection -> Object oriented multimedia database
ii. It facilitates the realistic reuse of software code and therefore makes application
development quicker and more robust.
 Organization will develop a library of object classes that deal with all the basic
activities.
 Software development -> selection and connection of existing classes
into relevant applications. (all classes are well tried and tested)
iii. It integrates methods of systems development with the system context
 System not only for the purpose to replace labour intensive operation. It is to
support individuals in problem solving / communication.
 Example: a system that dispatches ambulances to emergencies. Important:
 Interaction of the ambulances / other vehicles / service
 Ambulance drivers and their way of working
 The patient and their potential injuries / problems
 The hospital that may receive the patient.
iv. The ability to tackle more challenging problem situation because of the understanding
that the approach brings to the problem situation.
v. The improvement of analyst-user relationship, because the approach can be understood
by both equally and because it is not computer oriented.
vi. The improvement in the consistency of results, because it models all aspects of the
problem in the same way.

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CHAPTER 5: META MODELING CONCEPTS GENERIC FRAMEWORKS I:
EVALUATING METHODS AND TOOLS

vii. The ability to represent factors for change in the model so leading to a more resilient
model.

CONCLUSION

 Process Model
o Logical analysis of the processes and not the physical implementation.
o Focus on “what” not “how”
o Techniques
 Functional Decomposition
 Decision Tree
 Decision Table
 Data Flow Diagram
 Structured English

 Data Model
o Throught “identifying Entities” and after that “Entity Relationship Diagram”
o Independent of any physical implementation.

 Object Model
o Involves the modeling of data and processes.
o It facilitates the realistic re-use of software code and therefore makes application
development quicker and more robust.

CT037-3.5-3-ISDT (Information Systems Development Trend) Page 7

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