IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v13y2002i4p363-376.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Research Commentary: Information Systems and Conceptual Modeling—A Research Agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Yair Wand

    (Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z2)

  • Ron Weber

    (Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law, The University of Queensland, Australia 4072)

Abstract

Within the information systems field, the task of conceptual modeling involves building a representation of selected phenomena in some domain. High-quality conceptual modeling work is important because it facilitates early detection and correction of system development errors. It also plays an increasingly important role in activities like business process reengineering and documentation of best-practice data and process models in enterprise resource planning systems. Yet little research has been undertaken on many aspects of conceptual modeling. In this paper, we propose a framework to motivate research that addresses the following fundamental question: How can we model the world to better facilitate our developing, implementing, using, and maintaining more valuable information systems ? The framework comprises four elements: conceptual-modeling grammars, conceptual-modeling methods, conceptual-modeling scripts, and conceptual-modeling contexts. We provide examples of the types of research that have already been undertaken on each element and illustrate research opportunities that exist.

Suggested Citation

  • Yair Wand & Ron Weber, 2002. "Research Commentary: Information Systems and Conceptual Modeling—A Research Agenda," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(4), pages 363-376, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:13:y:2002:i:4:p:363-376
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.13.4.363.69
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.13.4.363.69
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.13.4.363.69?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. François Bodart & Arvind Patel & Marc Sim & Ron Weber, 2001. "Should Optional Properties Be Used in Conceptual Modelling? A Theory and Three Empirical Tests," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 384-405, December.
    2. Amit Basu & Robert W. Blanning, 2000. "A Formal Approach to Workflow Analysis," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 11(1), pages 17-36, March.
    3. Ron Weber, 1996. "Are Attributes Entities? A Study of Database Designers' Memory Structures," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 7(2), pages 137-162, June.
    4. Michael J. Prietula & Salvatore T. March, 1991. "Form and Substance in Physical Database Design: An Empirical Study," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 2(4), pages 287-314, December.
    5. Jeffrey Parsons, 1996. "An Information Model Based on Classification Theory," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(10), pages 1437-1453, October.
    6. Jinwoo Kim & Jungpil Hahn & Hyoungmee Hahn, 2000. "How Do We Understand a System with (So) Many Diagrams? Cognitive Integration Processes in Diagrammatic Reasoning," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 11(3), pages 284-303, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Becker, Jörg & Hallek, Sebastian & Brelage, Christian S., 2005. "Fachkonzeptionelle Spezifikation konfigurierbarer Geschäftsprozesse auf Basis von Web Services," Working Papers 16, University of Münster, Competence Center Internet Economy and Hybrid Systems, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).
    2. Heise, David & Strecker, Stefan & Frank, Ulrich, 2014. "ControlML: A domain-specific modeling language in support of assessing internal controls and the internal control system," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 224-245.
    3. Roman Lukyanenko & Andrea Wiggins & Holly K. Rosser, 0. "Citizen Science: An Information Quality Research Frontier," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    4. Guan, Jian & Levitan, Alan S. & Kuhn, John R., 2013. "How AIS can progress along with ontology research in IS," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 21-38.
    5. Andrew Burton-Jones & Peter N. Meso, 2006. "Conceptualizing Systems for Understanding: An Empirical Test of Decomposition Principles in Object-Oriented Analysis," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 38-60, March.
    6. Palash Bera & Andrew Burton-Jones & Yair Wand, 2014. "Research Note ---How Semantics and Pragmatics Interact in Understanding Conceptual Models," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(2), pages 401-419, June.
    7. Peter Fettke, 2009. "Ansätze der Informationsmodellierung und ihre betriebswirtschaftliche Bedeutung: Eine Untersuchung der Modellierungspraxis in Deutschland," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 61(5), pages 550-580, August.
    8. Merete Hvalshagen & Roman Lukyanenko & Binny M. Samuel, 2023. "Empowering Users with Narratives: Examining the Efficacy of Narratives for Understanding Data-Oriented Conceptual Models," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(3), pages 890-909, September.
    9. Pflanzl, Nicolas & Bergener, Katrin & Stein, Armin & Vossen, Gottfried, 2014. "Information systems freshmen teaching: Case experience from day one," ERCIS Working Papers 21, University of Münster, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).
    10. Eric Overby, 2008. "Process Virtualization Theory and the Impact of Information Technology," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(2), pages 277-291, April.
    11. Daniel Szopinski & Thorsten Schoormann & Thomas John & Ralf Knackstedt & Dennis Kundisch, 2020. "Software tools for business model innovation: current state and future challenges," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(3), pages 469-494, September.
    12. Roger Clarke, 2022. "Research opportunities in the regulatory aspects of electronic markets," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(1), pages 179-200, March.
    13. O'Leary, Daniel E., 2010. "Enterprise ontologies: Review and an activity theory approach," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 336-352.
    14. Florian Johannsen & Hans-Georg Fill, 2017. "Meta Modeling for Business Process Improvement," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 59(4), pages 251-275, August.
    15. Palash Bera, 2021. "Interactions between Analysts in Developing Collaborative Conceptual Models," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 561-573, June.
    16. Bojana Bajic & Nikola Suzic & Slobodan Moraca & Miladin Stefanović & Milos Jovicic & Aleksandar Rikalovic, 2023. "Edge Computing Data Optimization for Smart Quality Management: Industry 5.0 Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Michael Blaschke & Uwe Riss & Kazem Haki & Stephan Aier, 2019. "Design principles for digital value co-creation networks: a service-dominant logic perspective," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 443-472, September.
    18. Pedro Antunes & Nguyen Hoang Thuan & David Johnstone, 2022. "Nature and purpose of visual artifacts in design science research," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 515-550, September.
    19. Roman Lukyanenko & Jeffrey Parsons & Yolanda F. Wiersma, 2014. "The IQ of the Crowd: Understanding and Improving Information Quality in Structured User-Generated Content," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 669-689, December.
    20. Kazem Haki & Michael Blaschke & Stephan Aier & Robert Winter, 2019. "A Value Co-creation Perspective on Information Systems Analysis and Design," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 487-502, August.
    21. Jan Mendling & Jan Recker & Hajo A. Reijers & Henrik Leopold, 2019. "An Empirical Review of the Connection Between Model Viewer Characteristics and the Comprehension of Conceptual Process Models," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1111-1135, October.
    22. Roman Lukyanenko & Andrea Wiggins & Holly K. Rosser, 2020. "Citizen Science: An Information Quality Research Frontier," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 961-983, August.
    23. Roman Lukyanenko & Wolfgang Maass & Veda C. Storey, 2022. "Trust in artificial intelligence: From a Foundational Trust Framework to emerging research opportunities," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 1993-2020, December.
    24. F. Gailly & G. Poels, 2007. "Ontology-driven Business Modelling: Improving the Conceptual Representation of the REA Ontology," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 07/444, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrew Burton-Jones & Peter N. Meso, 2006. "Conceptualizing Systems for Understanding: An Empirical Test of Decomposition Principles in Object-Oriented Analysis," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 38-60, March.
    2. François Bodart & Arvind Patel & Marc Sim & Ron Weber, 2001. "Should Optional Properties Be Used in Conceptual Modelling? A Theory and Three Empirical Tests," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 384-405, December.
    3. Vijay Khatri & Iris Vessey & V. Ramesh & Paul Clay & Sung-Jin Park, 2006. "Understanding Conceptual Schemas: Exploring the Role of Application and IS Domain Knowledge," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 81-99, March.
    4. Roman Lukyanenko & Jeffrey Parsons & Yolanda F. Wiersma, 2014. "The IQ of the Crowd: Understanding and Improving Information Quality in Structured User-Generated Content," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 669-689, December.
    5. Ben Roelens & Geert Poels, 2015. "The Development and Experimental Evaluation of a Focused Business Model Representation," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 57(1), pages 61-71, February.
    6. Dunn, Cheryl L. & Gerard, Gregory J. & Grabski, Severin V., 2017. "The combined effects of user schemas and degree of cognitive fit on data retrieval performance," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 46-67.
    7. Sagnika Sen & T. S. Raghu, 2013. "Interdependencies in IT Infrastructure Services: Analyzing Service Processes for Optimal Incentive Design," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 822-841, September.
    8. A. Maes & G. Poels, 2006. "Development of a user evaluations based quality model for conceptual modeling," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 06/406, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    9. Sherry X. Sun & J. Leon Zhao & Jay F. Nunamaker & Olivia R. Liu Sheng, 2006. "Formulating the Data-Flow Perspective for Business Process Management," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 374-391, December.
    10. Paul L. Bowen & Robert A. O'Farrell & Fiona H. Rohde, 2009. "An Empirical Investigation of End-User Query Development: The Effects of Improved Model Expressiveness vs. Complexity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 565-584, December.
    11. Boot, Walter R. & Dunn, Cheryl L. & Fulmer, Bachman P. & Gerard, Gregory J. & Grabski, Severin V., 2022. "An eye tracking experiment investigating synonymy in conceptual model validation," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    12. Jan Claes & Irene Vanderfeesten & Frederik Gailly & Paul Grefen & Geert Poels, 2015. "The Structured Process Modeling Theory (SPMT) a cognitive view on why and how modelers benefit from structuring the process of process modeling," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 1401-1425, December.
    13. Therani Madhusudan, 2007. "A web services framework for distributed model management," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 9-27, March.
    14. Roger Clarke & Andrew Burton-Jones & Ron Weber, 2016. "On the Ontological Quality and Logical Quality of Conceptual-Modeling Grammars: The Need for a Dual Perspective," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 365-382, June.
    15. Luning Liu & Jingrui Ju & Yuqiang Feng, 2017. "An extensible framework for collaborative e-governance platform workflow modeling using data flow analysis," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 415-437, July.
    16. Jan Mendling & Jan Recker & Hajo A. Reijers & Henrik Leopold, 2019. "An Empirical Review of the Connection Between Model Viewer Characteristics and the Comprehension of Conceptual Process Models," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1111-1135, October.
    17. Bin Zhu & Stephanie A. Watts, 2010. "Visualization of Network Concepts: The Impact of Working Memory Capacity Differences," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(2), pages 327-344, June.
    18. Amit Basu & Akhil Kumar, 2002. "Research Commentary: Workflow Management Issues in e-Business," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, March.
    19. Rajiv D. Banker & Robert J. Kauffman, 2004. "50th Anniversary Article: The Evolution of Research on Information Systems: A Fiftieth-Year Survey of the Literature in Management Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(3), pages 281-298, March.
    20. Seno-Alday, Sandra, 2010. "International business thought: A 50-year footprint," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 16-31, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:13:y:2002:i:4:p:363-376. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.