On the symbiosis between enterprise modelling and ontology engineering

Abstract

In different fields, ontologies are increasingly deployed to specify and fix the terminology of a particular domain. In enterprise modelling, their main use lies in serving as a knowledge base for enterprise model creation. Such models, based on one or several compatible so-called enterprise-specific ontologies, allow for model alignment and solve interoperability issues. On the other hand, enterprise models may enrich the enterprise-specific ontology with concepts emerging from practical needs. In order to achieve this reciprocal advantage, we developed an ontology-based enterprise modeling meta-method that facilitates modelers to construct their models using the enterprise-specific ontology. While doing so, modelers give their feedback for ontology improvement. This feedback is subject to community approval, after which it is possibly incorporated into the ontology, thereby evolving the ontology to better fit the enterprise's needs. © Springer-Verlag 2013.