A Taxonomy for Real-World Modelling Concepts

Abstract A major component in problem analysis is to model the real world itself. However, the modelling languages suggested so far, suffer from several weaknesses, especially with respect to dynamics . First, dynamic modelling languages originally aimed at describing data—rather than real-world—processes. Moreover, they are either weak in expression, so that models become too vague to be meaningful, or they are cluttered with rigorous detail, which makes modelling unnecessarily complicated and inhibits the communication with end users. This paper establishes a simple and intuitive conceptual basis for the modelling of the real world, with an emphasis on dynamics. Object-orientation is not considered appropriate for this purpose, due to its focus on static object structure. Dataflow diagrams, on the other hand, emphasize dynamics, but unfortunately, some major conceptual deficiencies make DFDs, as well as their various formal extensions, unsuited for real-world modelling. This paper presents a taxonomy of concepts for real-world modelling which rely on some seemingly small, but essential modifications of the DFD language, Hence the well-known, communication-oriented diagrammatic representations of DFDs can be retained. It is indicated how the approach can support a smooth transition into later stages of object-oriented design and implementation.