From Information Algebra to Enterprise Modelling and Ontologies — a Historical Perspective on Modelling for Information Systems

Abstract

Evolution of research and practice in the area of conceptual modelling for information systems during more than four decades is examined. It focuses on activities related to research and practice in the early system development phases. It comments on a large number of modelling methods published in the 1960-ies, 70-ies, and 80-ies as well as on the report "Concepts and Terminology of the Conceptual Schema and the Information Base" reporting the work by the ISO working group ISO/TC97/SC5/WG5 in the early 80-ies. Approaches which are based on a temporal and deductive view of the application domain as well as object-oriented modelling languages are acknowledged. The paper continues with a discussion of principles and research problems related to a topic we call "Enterprise Modelling" and "Ontology Modelling". The role of conceptual modelling in information systems development during all these decades is seen as an approach for capturing fuzzy, ill-defined, informal "real-world" descriptions and user requirements, and then transforming them to formal, in some sense complete, and consistent conceptual specifications. During the last two decades an additional role of modelling has evolved-to support user and stakeholder participation in enterprise analysis and requirements formulation and in development of shared conceptualisations of specific domains.