Author:
Ovidiu Noran
Affiliation:
School of Computers and Information Technology, Griffith University, Australia
Keyword(s):
Expressive power, modelling language, business modelling, UML, IDEF, ontologies, metamodels, modelling methodologies, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Information Systems Analysis and Specification
;
Modeling Formalisms, Languages and Notations
Abstract:
The UML and IDEF sets of languages characterize typical modelling approaches of software engineering and computer integrated manufacturing, respectively. This paper presents a comparative analysis of these languages based on their ontologies and in view of their use in business modelling. A brief introduction to UML and IDEF is followed by a high-level comparison taking into account underlying paradigms and language structure. This is followed by a comparative assessment of the expressive power of the two groups of languages, based on the ontologies of their relevant components. The analysis is structured using a set of views deemed appropriate for the modelling domain (i.e. business). The key findings of this paper aim to provide an insight into the suitability of UML
’versus’ that of IDEF in business modelling.