On Models of Concepts and Data

Bernhard Thalheim's landmark book titled "Entity-Relationship Modeling: Foundations of Database Technology" [9] starts with listings of weaknesses and strengths of contemporary approaches to database models. His analysis is as valid today as when it was published in 2000. An important feature of Information Systems Engineering is the need to master software and data systems complexity while at the same time being able to present design details in a comprehensible way. The trend towards embedded systems necessitates that software and data models must be integrated with models of the application domains, be they technical, organizational, people centered or a mixture thereof. What follows is a discussion of possible underlying causes of the weaknesses as stated by Bernhard Thalheim, as well as proposals to approaches for removing the weaknesses.