Extending the Discussion of Model Quality: Why Clarity and Completeness may not always be enough

Mendling, Jan and Recker, Jan (2007) Extending the Discussion of Model Quality: Why Clarity and Completeness may not always be enough. In Pernici, Barbara and Gulla, Jon Atle, Eds. Proceedings The 19th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE'07), pages pp. 109-121, Trondheim, Norway.

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Abstract

Quality of modeling for information systems analysis and design is an important field of research in which, however, a comprehensive and generally acknowledged understanding is still outstanding. Notions of "model" and "quality" often remain vague and focus on particular aspects such as "syntax" or "semantics" rather than a comprehensive perspective on model quality. In this paper we argue that it is foremost the question of modeling pragmatics that is of pertinence when trying to ascertain the quality of a modeling artefact. We illustrate how pragmatic concerns mediate traditional conceptions of model quality. We refer to the well-established Bunge-Wand-Weber representation model and discuss how pragmatic concerns affect the understanding of model quality in addition to the quality criteria provided by such ontology-based theories of modeling. We apply the formalism provided by K¨uhne to clarify the influence of pragmatic concerns on modeling as a mapping activity with choices.

Item Type:	Conference Paper
Status:	Published
Place of Publication:	Trondheim, Norway
Subjects:	280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280100 Information Systems > 280111 Conceptual Modelling
ID Code:	10612
Deposited By:	Recker, Jan
Deposited On:	09 November 2007
Alternative Locations:	http://butikk.tapirforlag.no/en/node/1087, http://www.tapirforlag.no/forlag/english/, http://caise07.idi.ntnu.no/
Copyright Owner:	Copyright 2007 (please consult authors)
Additional Information:	paper published within 'CAiSE 2007 Workshop Proceedings Vol.1' ; For more information, please refer to the conference/ publisher's website (see hypertext link) or contact the authors.