John Krogstie

Process models representing knowledge for action: a revised quality framework

A semiotic framework for evaluating the quality of conceptual models was proposed by (Lindland OI, Sindre G and Sølvberg A (1994) Understanding Quality in Conceptual Modelling, IEEE Software 11(2), 41–49) and has later been extended in several works. While the extensions have fixed some of the limitations of the initial framework, other limitations remain. In particular, the framework is too static in its view upon semantic quality, mainly considering models, not modelling activities, and comparing these models to a static domain rather than seeing the model as a facilitator for changing the domain. Also, the frameworks definition of pragmatic quality is quite narrow, focusing on understanding, in line with the semiotics of Morris, while newer research in linguistics and semiotics has focused beyond mere understanding, on how the model is used and impact its interpreters. The need for a more dynamic view in the semiotic quality framework is particularly evident when considering process models, which themselves often prescribe or even enact actions in the problem domain, hence a change to the model may also change the problem domain directly. This paper discusses the quality framework in relation to active process models and suggests a revised framework based on this.

Defining quality aspects for conceptual models

The notion of quality for information system models and other conceptual models is not well understood, and in most literature only lists of useful properties have been provided. However, the recent framework of Lindland et al. has tried to take a more systematic approach, defining the notions of syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic quality of models, and distinguishing between quality goals and the means to achieve them. Here, this framework is extended by discussing the six semiotic layers of communication identified by FRISCO. Definitions are provided for physical, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, and social quality, respectively, and to the extent possible, metrics are provided for the defined quality goals. In addition the related areas of language and knowledge quality are discussed briefly.

Mobile augmented reality for cultural heritage: A technology acceptance study

We have developed a mobile augmented reality application with historical photographs and information about a historical street. We follow a design science research methodology and use an extended version of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to study the acceptance of this application. A prototype has been developed in accordance with general principles for usability design, and two surveys have been conducted. A web survey with 200 participants that watched a short video demonstration of the application to validate the adapted acceptance model, and a street survey, where 42 participants got the opportunity to try the application in a live setting before answering a similar questionnaire and provide more concrete feedback. The results show that both perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment has a direct impact on the intention to use mobile augmented reality applications with historical pictures and information. Further a number of practical recommendations for the development and deployment of such systems are provided.

Research areas and challenges for mobile information systems

This paper explores new challenges and possible approaches for developing mobile information systems, with an emphasis on model-based approaches on the conceptual and logical levels. Over the last few years, we have experienced these new challenges through our involvement in several research and industrial projects on mobile solutions, usability and model-based approaches. We summarise the main challenges of how model-based approaches can support the development of mobile information systems that are to be used together with other types of systems in a primarily professional setting and indicate upcoming research issues in this very dynamic area.

Conceptual Modelling in Information Systems Engineering

1) From Information Algebra to Enterprise Modelling and Ontologies - a Historical Perspective on Modelling for Information Systems (Janis A. Bubenko jr.) - 2) Fact Oriented Modeling: Past, Present and Future (Terry Halpin) - 3) Data Integration - Problems, Approaches, and Perspectives (Patrick Ziegler, Klaus R. Dittrich) - 4) Challenges to Conceptual Modeling (Bernhard Thalheim) - 5) Interoperable Management of Conceptual Models (Andreas L. Opdahl, Guttorm Sindre) - 6) Uniform and Flexible Data Management in Workflow Management Systems (Johann Eder, Marek Lehmann) - 7) Using Models in Enterprise Systems Projects (Jon Atle Gulla) - 8) The Role of Business Models in Enterprise Modelling (Paul Johannesson) - 9) Capturing System Intentionality with Maps (Colette Rolland) - 10) Conceptual Modeling and Software Design of Multi-Agent Systems (David Kung, Krishna Kavi) - 11) Agent Approach to Online Legal Trade (Antje Dietrich, Peter C. Lockemann, Oliver Raabe) - 12) Methods and Tools for Developing Interactive Information Systems (Anthony I. Wasserman) - 13) Conceptual Alignement of Software Production Methods (Oscar Pastor, Arturo Gonzalez, Sergio Espana) - The Co-Development of System Requirements and Functional Architecture (Klaus Pohl, Ernst Sikora) - 15) Capturing Dependability Threats in Conceptual Modelling (Guttorm Sindre, Andreas L. Opdahl) - 16 What is Being Iterated? Reflections on Iteration in Information System Engineering Processes (Nicholas Berente, Kalle Lyytinen) - 17) Systems Development in a GRIDs Environment (Keith Jeffery) - 18) Adaptive Information Systems (Barbara Pernici) - 19) Modeling of the People, by the People, for the People (John Krogstie) - 19) A Research Agenda for a Conceptual Schema-Centric Development (Antoni Olive, Jordi Cabot)

Developing an instrument to measure the adoption of mobile services

Currently, there is no standard instrument for measuring user adoption of mobile services. Based on the mobile service acceptance model, this paper reports on the development of a survey instrument designed to measure user perception on mobile services acceptance. A survey instrument was developed by using some existing scales from prior instruments and by creating additional items which might appear to fit the construct definitions. In addition, a pilot study was conducted by distributing the survey to 25 users of a mobile service called Mobile Student Information Systems. As a result, a survey instrument containing 22 items were retained. Furthermore, the results showed that the reliabilities of all the scales in the survey instrument were above the target acceptance level.

A Semiotic Approach to Quality in Requirements Specifications

We have earlier developed a framework for understanding and assessing the quality of models in general, with emphasis on models made in conceptual modeling languages. At the same time, there is a long tradition on discussing quality of requirements specifications. Several authors have created taxonomies of useful properties of models and requirements specifications, as summarized by Alan Davis in his article from 1993. We have in this paper extended our quality framework for models based on the work by Davis on quality in requirement specifications, looking upon a requirements specification as a specific type of model. Comparing the approaches we find on the one hand that the properties as summarized by Davis are subsumed by our framework on a high level, and that there are aspects within our framework that are not covered by Davis. On the other hand, the comparison has resulted in a useful deepening of our framework on this specific kind of model, and in this way improved the practical applicability of our framework when applied to discussing the quality of requirements specifications.

Interactive Models for Supporting Networked Organisations

This paper presents a novel approach to the development and operation of dynamic networked organization. The approach is based on the idea of using interactive models. Interactive models are visual models of enterprise aspects that can be viewed, traversed, analyzed, simulated, adapted and executed by industrial users as part of their work. The approach was developed in the EXTERNAL-project, where experiences from three case studies were used as a basis for validation and further enhancement of the approach in follow-up projects. The main innovative contributions include an environment to support concurrent modelling, meta-modelling, management and performance of work, integrated support for planned and emergent processes, and customisable model- and process-driven integration.

Integrating the understanding of quality in requirements specification and conceptual modeling

The notion of quality of information system models and other conceptual models is not well understood. However, recent quality frameworks have tried to take a more systematic approach. We have earlier developed a framework for understanding and assessing the quality of models in general, with emphasis on models made in conceptual modeling languages. At the same time, there is a long tradition on discussing quality of more specialized models, e.g. in the form of requirements specifications. Several authors have created taxonomies of useful properties of models and requirements specifications, the most comprehensive overview being presented by Alan Davis.We have in this paper extended our quality framework for models based on the work by Davis on quality in requirement specifications, looking upon a requirements specification as a specific type of model. Comparing the approaches we find on the one hand that the properties as summarized by Davis are subsumed by our framework on a high level, and that there are aspects within our framework that are not covered by Davis. On the other hand, the comparison has resulted in a useful extension and deepening of our framework on this specific kind of model, and in this way improved the practical applicability of our framework when applied to discussing the quality of requirements specifications.

Analysis and Design of Business Processes Using BPMN

In 2004, the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) was presented as a standard business process modeling language. Its development was considered to be an important step in reducing the fragmentation that was witnessed between the existing process modeling tools and notations. Since then BPMN has been evaluated in different ways by the academic community and has become widely supported by the industry. After completing the first major revisions of BPMN, the Object Management Group (OMG) is working toward a new BPMN standard, BPMN 2.0. This chapter summarizes some of the evaluations of BPMN and presents these together with reported experiences as well as some examples of proposed extensions and future expectations based on these.