Classification of reference models

Abstract

The usefulness of classifications for reuse, especially for the selection of reference models is emphasised in the literature. Nevertheless, an empirical classification of reference models using formal cluster analysis methods is still an open issue. In this paper a cluster analysis is applied on the latest and largest freely available reference model catalogue. In the result, based on at last 9 selected variables, three different clusters of reference models could be identified (practitioner reference models, scientific business process reference models and scientific multi-view reference models). Important implications of the result are: a better documentation is generally needed to improve the reusability of reference models and there is a gap between scientific insights (regarding the usefulness of multi-view reference models and regarding the usefulness of concepts for reuse and customisation) and their application as well as tool support in practice.