Theory-Based Methods for Information Systems Analysis and Design

该项目继续一个由NSERC支持的长期研究计划，总体目标是开发和改进信息系统(IS)分析和设计(SA&D)的方法。分析的重点是了解系统的需求。设计是为满足需求的系统创建计划。适当的分析和设计过程对信息技术项目的成功至关重要，因此可以产生重大的经济影响。这项研究是基于将IS视为某一“真实”(应用)领域的表示。因此，SA&D的目标是开发一种忠实和可用的表征。这部作品的理论基础是本体论和概念论。在哲学中，本体论理论处理的是世界上存在的东西。在认知科学中，概念理论阐述了人类如何将信息组织成概念。 迄今为止的研究取得了以下主要贡献： 1.IS表征观是SA&D研究和实践的新范式。 2.研究和发展SA&D中使用的建模技术的理论和经验方法。 3.开放信息环境原则，规定信息来源、用户和使用的灵活性和多样性。 4.定义数据质量、对业务流程建模、表示知识、定义控制、分析工作系统和重新使用软件系统的新方法。 目前的项目将主要集中在： 1.探索在系统分析和系统设计中使用相同的建模技术。 2.开发和测试开放信息环境的实用体系结构。 3.开发用于知识表示、业务流程分析和软件重用的实用方法。 4.统一和形式化本体论和认知基础，以支持SA&D的实践。

This project continues a long-term NSERC-supported research program with the general objective of developing and improving methods for information systems (IS) analysis and design (SA&D). Analysis focuses on understanding the requirements for a system. Design is the creation of a plan for a system that fulfills the requirements. Proper processes of analysis and design are crucial to the success of information technology projects and hence can have a significant economic impact. The research is based on considering an IS as a representation of a certain "real" (application) domain. Accordingly, the objective of SA&D is developing a faithful and usable representation. The theoretical foundations of the work are Ontology and Concept Theory. In philosophy, ontological theories deal with what exists in the world. In cognitive sciences, Concept Theory addresses how humans organize information into concepts. The research to date has resulted in the following main contributions: 1. The representation view of IS as a new paradigm for research and practice of SA&D. 2. Theoretical and empirical approaches to the study and development of modelling techniques used in SA&D. 3. Principles for Open Information Environments which provide for flexibility and variability of sources, users, and uses of information. 4. Novel approaches to defining data quality, to modelling business processes, to representing knowledge, to defining controls, to analyzing work systems, and to reusing software systems. The present project will focus mainly on: 1. Exploring the use of the same modelling techniques for both systems analysis and system design. 2. Developing and testing practical architectures for Open Information Environments. 3. Developing practical methods for knowledge representation, business process analysis, and software reuse. 4. Unifying and formalizing the ontological and cognitive foundations to support the practice of SA&D.