21.01.2014 Views

Semantic Annotation for Process Models: - Department of Computer ...

Semantic Annotation for Process Models: - Department of Computer ...

Semantic Annotation for Process Models: - Department of Computer ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Chapter 2<br />

Problem Setting<br />

In this chapter, we establish basic concepts, theoretical and technical background and<br />

the context <strong>of</strong> this research work. Since we work in the in<strong>for</strong>mation modeling area,<br />

we start the study with theories and methodologies in in<strong>for</strong>mation system engineering<br />

discipline. Concepts, standards and relevant issues about semantic interoperability and<br />

semantic annotation are then discussed in this chapter. The research target – business<br />

process model and its application – business process knowledge management are also<br />

discussed concerning the context <strong>of</strong> the work.<br />

2.1 <strong>Models</strong> in In<strong>for</strong>mation System Engineering<br />

A model <strong>of</strong> a system is defined by OMG 1 as a description or specification <strong>of</strong> that system<br />

and its environment <strong>for</strong> certain purpose. In the conventional system development<br />

lifecycle, models are mainly used in system analysis and design phases and they are not<br />

reusable resources after a system is developed. In the modern methods <strong>of</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

system development, models play an important role as reusable IS solutions.<br />

MDA 2 is an approach to system development, which increases the power <strong>of</strong> models<br />

in that work. MDA provides a means <strong>for</strong> using models to direct the course <strong>of</strong><br />

understanding, design, construction, deployment, operation, maintenance and modification<br />

[117]. MDA is initiated with the idea <strong>of</strong> separating specifications <strong>of</strong> the operation<br />

<strong>of</strong> a system from details <strong>of</strong> the way that system uses the capabilities <strong>of</strong> its plat<strong>for</strong>m.<br />

The three primary goals <strong>of</strong> MDA are portability, interoperability and reusability. The<br />

objective <strong>of</strong> MDA is to provide an open, vendor-neutral approach to the challenge <strong>of</strong><br />

business and technology change [123] by separating different concerns. Three different<br />

viewpoint models are distinguished as Computation Independent Model (CIM),<br />

Plat<strong>for</strong>m Independent Model (PIM) and Plat<strong>for</strong>m Specific Model (PSM) [117].<br />

• CIM — A computation independent model is a view <strong>of</strong> a system from the computation<br />

independent viewpoint. A CIM is sometimes called a domain model and a<br />

vocabulary that is familiar to the practitioners <strong>of</strong> the domain in question is used<br />

in its specification.<br />

1 Object Management Group, http://www.omg.org/<br />

2 Model Driven Architecture, http://www.omg.org/mda/<br />

11

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!