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International Conference on Conceptual Modeling

ER 1998: Conceptual Modeling – ER ’98 pp 240–254Cite as

The Guidelines of Modeling – An Approach to Enhance the Quality in Information Models

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1507))

Abstract

Although the necessity of building models seems obvious, it is astonishing that only few works deal with the fundamental problems of modeling – how models need to be understood from an epistemological point of view (e.g.: how does a modeler come to a model; why and in which ways do models built by different designers differ from another). The paper bases on the assumption that the subjective position of the modeler is the characterizing issue for the result of the modeling process – and that this subjectivity needs to be managed. We derive from this assumption the need for a sound structural framework in order to deal with the subjectivism of building models. With the Guidelines of Modeling (GoM) we present a framework of principles that improve the quality of information models by reducing the subjectivism in the information modeling process. The quality of modeling is supported by recommendations for an efficient, comprehensive, and correct design of information models. In the first part of the paper the guidelines are derived from the specific problems that stem from the subjective process of the system design. The Guidelines of Modeling contain six principles to ameliorate the quality of information modeling which are described in detail. Subsequently, the basic guidelines are placed in a structural framework, the GoM-Architecture, which consists of two dimensions: 1st the range of model-use (reference models for a class of organizations or an industry, and company-specific models) and 2nd the degree of precision or concretion (general, system views, and description language).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, especially Production and Information Management, University of Essen, Universitätsstr. 9, D-45141, Essen, Germany

    Reinhard Schuette

  2. Department of Information Systems, University of Münster, Steinfurter Str. 107, D-48149, Muenster, Germany

    Thomas Rotthowe

Authors
  1. Reinhard Schuette
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  2. Thomas Rotthowe
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, National University of Singapore,  

    Tok-Wang Ling

  2. Department of MIS, Eller School of Management, University of Arizona, 430J McClelland Hall, 85721, Tucson, AZ

    Sudha Ram

  3. Department of Computer Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore

    Mong Li Lee

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Schuette, R., Rotthowe, T. (1998). The Guidelines of Modeling – An Approach to Enhance the Quality in Information Models. In: Ling, TW., Ram, S., Li Lee, M. (eds) Conceptual Modeling – ER ’98. ER 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1507. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49524-6_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49524-6_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65189-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49524-6

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