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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roman Lukyanenko & Andrea Wiggins & Holly K. Rosser, 0. "Citizen Science: An Information Quality Research Frontier," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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).
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    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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).
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. Palash Bera, 2021. "Interactions between Analysts in Developing Collaborative Conceptual Models," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 561-573, June.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    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.

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