Expanding Conceptual Modeling to Help Manage Changes in the Business

扩展概念建模以帮助管理业务变化

• 批准号: 36902-2013
• 负责人: Woo, Carson
• 金额: $ 1.09万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=568786
• 关键词: Expanding; Conceptual; Modeling; Help; Manage

Conceptual modeling has been defined as "the activity of formally describing some aspects of the physical and social world around us for purposes of understanding and communication". The outcome of conceptual modeling is usually some kind of a diagram or conceptual model. Conceptual modeling has been used mainly as a means for systems analysts to gather requirements from organizational workers so that information systems (IS) can be developed. In order to better capture requirements for developing IS, I have been extending conceptual models to include more of the business context (e.g., mission of the organization). When communicating these conceptual models to managers, we found that they discovered previously unknown information, and utilized the conceptual models to support their problem solving. We, therefore, hypothesize that the use of such extended models can provide dual benefits. First, it can lead to better understanding of IS requirements, and hence to better outcomes of IS projects. Second, such conceptual models can help manage changes in the business, which is a new use of conceptual models. Such changes often occur when the business evolves and adjusts over time, due to growth, downsizing, and new generations of consumers, and when IS applications are introduced into the business (which can lead to radical changes in how the business is conducted). The overall objective of this research is to identify and test conceptual modeling approaches that can support this dual role. The novelty of our proposed approach is to view the business as consisting of organizational actors, who each represent an organizational role; have a goal and certain capabilities; engage in reasoning and learning to accomplish the goal; and interact with other roles. To accomplish the objective of supporting managers, we must provide constructs for conceptual modeling that are not biased toward an IS background and thinking. Therefore, the conceptual models will require constructs that employ management and organizational concepts that are meaningful to stakeholders.

概念建模被定义为“为了理解和交流的目的，对我们周围的物理和社会世界的某些方面进行形式化描述的活动”。 概念建模的结果通常是某种图表或概念模型。 概念建模主要用于系统分析人员收集组织工作人员的需求，以便开发信息系统（IS）。 为了更好地捕获开发IS的需求，我一直在扩展概念模型，以包括更多的业务上下文（例如，本组织的使命）。 当将这些概念模型传达给管理者时，我们发现他们发现了以前未知的信息，并利用概念模型来支持他们解决问题。 因此，我们假设使用这种扩展模型可以提供双重好处。 首先，它可以导致更好地了解信息系统的要求，从而更好地实现信息系统项目的成果。 其次，这样的概念模型可以帮助管理业务中的更改，这是概念模型的一种新用途。 当业务随着时间的推移而发展和调整时，由于增长，缩小规模和新一代消费者，以及当IS应用程序引入业务时（这可能导致业务如何进行根本性的变化），通常会发生这种变化。 本研究的总体目标是确定和测试概念建模方法，可以支持这一双重角色。 我们所提出的方法的新奇在于将企业视为由组织参与者组成，每个参与者都代表一个组织角色;有一个目标和某些能力;参与推理和学习以实现目标;并与其他角色互动。 为了实现支持管理者的目标，我们必须提供不偏向于IS背景和思想的概念建模结构。 因此，概念模型将需要采用对涉众有意义的管理和组织概念的结构。