John R. Venable

Towards an integrated environment for method engineering

In order to facilitate better Information Systems Development (ISD), Method Engineering technqiues and tools are needed that support flexible creation, modification, and reuse of ISD methods and tools for use on specific problem domains. A metamodelling notation is needed for specifying and integrating different design notations. MetaCASE support is required for building, reusing and evolving tools for these design notations. Process modelling tools for both the coordination of these design notation tools and the evolution of software processes are also needed. We describe our work on developing an integrated environment which supports metamodelling, metaCASE and flexible software process modelling, and illustrate its use for supporting Method Engineering.

Providing Integrated Support for Multiple Development Notations

A new method for providing integrated support for multiple development notations (including analysis, design, and implementation) within Information Systems Engineering Environments (ISEEs) is described. Our method supports both static integration of multiple notations and the implementation of dynamic support for them within an integrated ISEE. First, conceptual data models of different analysis and design notations are identified and modelled, and then merged into an integrated conceptual data model. Second, mappings are derived from the integrated conceptual data model, which translates data changes in one notation to appropriate data changes in the other notations. Third, individual ISEEs for each notation are developed. Finally, the individual ISEEs are integrated via an integrated repository based on the integrated conceptual data model and mappings. An environment supporting integrated tools for Object-Oriented Analysis and Extended Entity-Relationship diagrams is described, which has been built using this technique.

Integrating and Supporting Entity Relationship and Object Role Models

This paper describes the conceptual integration and computer-based support of two important groups of conceptual data models, Entity Relationship Models and Object Role Models (e.g. NIAM). We perform conceptual integration using the conceptual data modelling language CoCoA to specify separate data models of individual notations. We then merge these into an integrated conceptual data model for both notations. These data models form the basis of the repository for an I-CASE tool supporting modelling with both notations, with full consistency management between the two notation data models.

Teaching novice conceptual data modellers to become experts

This paper describes teaching practices designed to help novice data modellers become expert data modellers. We base these practices on extant empirical research which highlights the strengths of expert data modellers and reveals the weaknesses of novices. After reviewing this research and analysing the causes of the novices difficulties, we describe a strategy and specific techniques for helping novices to overcome their weaknesses and acquire the strengths and skills of expert data modellers. Techniques recommended include explicit comparison and teaching of novice and expert characteristics and behaviours, providing students with a realistic plan for how to acquire expert data modellers capabilities, exposure to and comparison of a wide variety of data modelling approaches and topics, extensive amounts of practice on a wide variety of application domains, and critique of practical work in light of the understanding of novice errors and expert behaviours. Our intent is not just to make significant progress during a course, but to provide students with a means to continue to learn and improve in the long term.