Authors:
Richard Braun
and
Werner Esswein
Affiliation:
TU Dresden, Germany
Keyword(s):
Enterprise Modeling, Meta Modeling, Formal Semantics, Material Semantics, Behavioral Semantics.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
General-Purpose Modeling Languages and Standards
;
Languages, Tools and Architectures
;
MetaModeling
;
Model-Driven Software Development
;
Models
;
Paradigm Trends
;
Software Engineering
;
Syntax and Semantics of Modeling Languages
Abstract:
Enterprise Modeling Languages (EMLs) are generally perceived as conceptual modeling languages having
a formal syntax and informal semantics. The non-formality of semantics is mainly caused by the materiality
of the addressed domain (enterprises and its related aspects) and the resulting personal interpretation of
syntactical constructs. However, EMLs may also explicitly define invariant interpretations in the sense of possible
model executions or the definition of domain-specific restrictions. It is therefore promising to address
a possible amalgamation of material semantics and formal semantics in order to provide an integrated and
comprehensive semantic specification of EMLs. This position paper introduces and motivates the topic by
systematizing and consolidating approaches from both fields and introduces a framework for so-called hybrid
semantics on the meta model layer. Further, the general relevance of semantics and semantic specifications in
EMLs is emphasized and prospective
research challenges are proposed.
(More)