A new way of modelling information systems and business processes – the NOMIS approach

Abstract

NOMIS – NOrmative Modelling of Information Systems proposes a new way of thinking, modelling and developing information systems (IS). This approach is based on Human Relativism (HR), a new human centred philosophical stance in line with IS reality. As a corollary of applying HR ontology, NOMIS adopts the human observable action as its kernel modelling element. Besides HR, NOMIS has also its roots on three IS socio-technical approaches, namely Organisational Semiotics, the Theory of Organised Activity and Enterprise Ontology from where some of its specific vision and views are inspired. For modelling purposes, NOMIS provides its own notation and, alternatively, a correspondent set of UML profiles. This paper presents an overview of NOMIS together with an empirical case study of a library system. This case study is used to demonstrate NOMIS application and, primarily, to highlight some new and important concepts in NOMIS that are mostly missing, neglected or misused in other modelling approaches. Some of these concepts affect the way business processes and information systems in general, are understood and modelled.