Toward Advanced Visualization Techniques for Conceptual Modeling

Conceptual models and their visualizations play an important role in the in the Information Systems (IS) field. Their track record, however, is mixed. While their benefits are clearly perceived, practitioners also struggle with their use. This paper picks up on a potential factor that limits the effectiveness of conceptual models, namely the poor design rationale behind their visual appearance. We argue for the benefits of a holistic view on the visual side of a conceptual modeling technique, which should draw from both perceptual and cognitive theories to improve the representation of objects. We present concrete activities and outline their fundamentals in the form of a research agenda. Keywords: Visualization, Analysis, Modeling, Cognitive Efficiency, Human-Computer-Interaction

[1]  Dinesh Batra,et al.  Conceptual data modelling in theory and practice , 1995 .

[2]  Michael Rosemann,et al.  Potential pitfalls of process modeling: part B , 2006, Business Process Management Journal.

[3]  Ron Weber,et al.  Research Commentary: Information Systems and Conceptual Modeling - A Research Agenda , 2002, Inf. Syst. Res..

[4]  Ned Kock,et al.  Communication flow orientation in business process modeling and its effect on redesign success: Results from a field study , 2009, Decis. Support Syst..

[5]  Edmund Husserl.  Logical Investigations Volume 2 , 1970 .

[6]  S. Vereza.  Philosophy in the flesh: the embodied mind and its challenge to Western thought , 2001 .

[7]  Dan Saffer,et al.  Designing for Interaction: Creating Innovative Applications and Devices , 2009 .

[8]  Ganesh S. Oak.  Information Visualization Introduction , 2022 .

[9]  Michael Rosemann,et al.  Potential pitfalls of process modeling: part A , 2006, Bus. Process. Manag. J..

[10]  Marta Indulska,et al.  How do practitioners use conceptual modeling in practice? , 2006, Data Knowl. Eng..

[11]  Jarke J. van Wijk,et al.  The value of visualization , 2005, VIS 05. IEEE Visualization, 2005..

[12]  Nelson Goodman,et al.  Languages of Art, an Approach to a Theory of Symbols , 1970 .

[13]  Mark Strembeck,et al.  On the Cognitive Effectiveness of Routing Symbols in Process Modeling Languages , 2010, BIS.

[14]  Hunter Whitney.  Data Insights: New Ways to Visualize and Make Sense of Data , 2012 .

[15]  Jan Mendling,et al.  Managing Process Model Complexity via Concrete Syntax Modifications , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.

[16]  N. Goodman,et al.  Languages of art : an approach to a theory of symbols , 1979 .

[17]  Maurice Merleau-Ponty.  Phenomenology of Perception , 1964 .

[18]  Daniel L. Moody,et al.  The “Physics” of Notations: Toward a Scientific Basis for Constructing Visual Notations in Software Engineering , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering.

[19]  Hajo A. Reijers,et al.  A linear time layout algorithm for business process models , 2014, J. Vis. Lang. Comput..

[20]  Martin Bichler,et al.  Design science in information systems research , 2006, Wirtschaftsinf..

[21]  Mark Strembeck,et al.  On the importance of flow direction in business process models , 2014, 2014 9th International Conference on Software Engineering and Applications (ICSOFT-EA).

[22]  Kim J. Vicente,et al.  Ecological interface design: theoretical foundations , 1992, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern..

[23]  RosemannMichael,et al.  How do practitioners use conceptual modeling in practice , 2006 .