Conceptual Modeling - An Epistemological Foundation

The success of contemporary organizations depends on their ability to make appropriate decisions. Making appropriate decisions is inevitably bound to the availability and provision of relevant information. Information systems should be able to provide information in an efficient way. Thus, within information systems development a detailed analysis of information supply and information demands has to prevail. Based on Syperski’s information set and subset-model we will give an epistemological foundation of information modeling in general and show, why conceptual modeling in particular is capable of specifying effective and efficient information systems. Furthermore, we derive conceptual modeling requirements based on our findings. A short example illustrates the usefulness of a conceptual data modeling technique for the specification of information systems.

[1]  A. Tarski.  Truth and proof. , 1969, Scientific American.

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

[3]  Roland Holten,et al.  Entwicklung von Führungsinformationssystemen , 1999 .

[4]  Jacky Swan,et al.  There’s More to Information Systems Development than Structured Approaches: Information Requirements Analysis as a Socially Mediated Process , 2000, Requirements Engineering.

[5]  Gordon B. Davis,et al.  Determining Management Information Needs: A Comparison of Methods , 1977, MIS Q..

[6]  C. I. Lewis,et al.  The Semantic Conception of Truth and the Foundations of Semantics , 1944 .

[7]  Franz-Xaver Bea.  Führungsinformationssysteme zur Bewältigung des dynamischen Umfelds , 1995 .

[8]  Kar Yan Tam,et al.  The Impact of Information Technology Investments on Firm Performance and Evaluation: Evidence from Newly Industrialized Economies , 1998, Inf. Syst. Res..

[9]  Richard L. Kirkham.  Theories of truth : a critical introduction , 1995 .

[10]  S. Haack.  Philosophy of logics , 1978 .

[11]  James T. C. Teng,et al.  Choice Of An Information Requirements Analysis Method: An Integrated Approach , 1988 .

[12]  Andrew Gemino,et al.  Evaluating modeling techniques based on models of learning , 2003, CACM.

[13]  Ferdinand de Saussure.  Course in General Linguistics , 1916 .

[14]  Ron Weber,et al.  On the ontological expressiveness of information systems analysis and design grammars , 1993, Inf. Syst. J..

[15]  M. Bunge.  Treatise on basic philosophy , 1974 .

[16]  Ron Weber,et al.  Conceptual Modelling and Ontology: Possibilities and Pitfalls , 2002, ER.

[17]  Eric Walden,et al.  The Impact of E-Commerce Announcements on the Market Value of Firms , 2001, Inf. Syst. Res..

[18]  C. Morris,et al.  Writings on the General Theory of Signs , 1971 .

[19]  J. Rockart.  Chief executives define their own data needs. , 1979, Harvard business review.

[20]  M. Venkatraman.  It-enabled business transformation: from automation to business scope redefinition , 1994 .

[21]  Roland Holten,et al.  Integration von Informationssystemen , 2003, Wirtschaftsinf..

[22]  Barbara Wixom,et al.  An Empirical Investigation of the Factors Affecting Data Warehousing Success , 2001, MIS Q..

[23]  Robert L. Ashenhurst,et al.  Ontological aspects of information modeling , 1996, Minds and Machines.

[24]  Kalle Lyytinen,et al.  Information Systems Development and Data Modeling: Frontmatter , 1995 .

[25]  John C. Henderson,et al.  Strategic Alignment: Leveraging Information Technology for Transforming Organizations , 1993, IBM Syst. J..

[26]  D. Davidson.  Inquiries Into Truth and Interpretation , 1984 .

[27]  F. Saussure,et al.  Course in General Linguistics , 1960 .

[28]  Heinz Klein,et al.  Information Systems Development and Data Modeling: Preface , 1995 .

[29]  Richard L. Kirkham.  Theories of truth : a critical introduction , 1995 .

[30]  Allen Newell,et al.  Human Problem Solving. , 1973 .

[31]  R. Montague,et al.  The Semantic Conception of Truth and the Foundations of Semantics , 1996 .

[32]  E. Grochla.  Handwörterbuch der Organisation , 1969 .

[33]  Ron Weber,et al.  Should Optional Properties Be Used in Conceptual Modelling? A Theory and Three Empirical Tests , 2001, Inf. Syst. Res..

[34]  David A. Pailin.  Constructive Philosophy , 1967 .

[35]  Michael R. Vitale,et al.  Creating Competitive Advantage with Interorganizational Information Systems , 1988, MIS Q..

[36]  Jörg Becker,et al.  Specifying information systems for business process integration – A management perspective* , 2003, Inf. Syst. E Bus. Manag..

[37]  Varun Grover,et al.  Research Report: A Reexamination of IT Investment and the Market Value of the Firm - An Event Study Methodology , 2001, Inf. Syst. Res..

[38]  C. Hookway.  Towards a Transformation of Philosophy By Karl-Otto Apel Translated by Glyn Adey and David Frisby London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, xi + 308 pp., £12.50 , 1981, Philosophy.

[39]  E. W. Martin.  Information Needs of Top MIS Managers , 1983, MIS Q..

[40]  Jörg Becker,et al.  Konfiguration fachkonzeptioneller Referenzmodelle , 2003, Wirtschaftsinformatik.

[41]  E. Tansley,et al.  Using ontology to validate conceptual models , 2003, CACM.

[42]  Alexander Dreiling,et al.  Management Report Engineering — A Swiss Re Business Case , 2002 .

[43]  Izak Benbasat,et al.  Factors That Influence the Social Dimension of Alignment Between Business and Information Technology Objectives , 2000, MIS Q..

[44]  Charles Møller,et al.  Proceedings of the Tenth Americas Conference on Information Systems , 2004 .

[45]  Paul Lorenzen,et al.  Logical Propaedeutic: Pre-School of Reasonable Discourse , 1984 .

[46]  D. Frisby,et al.  Towards a Transformation of Philosophy , 2023 .

[47]  Sunder Kekre,et al.  Business Value of Information Technology: A Study of Electronic Data Interchange , 1995, MIS Q..

[48]  G. Riecker.  Wissen und Gewissen , 2000 .

[49]  Roland Holten,et al.  Specification of management views in information warehouse projects , 2003, Inf. Syst..

[50]  Patrick Delfmann,et al.  Subjektivitätsmanagement für die Referenzmodellierung: Vorgehensmodell und Werkzeugkonzept , 2001 .

[51]  Lorin M. Hitt,et al.  Productivity, Business Profitability, and Consumer Surplus: Three Different Measures of Information Technology Value , 1996, MIS Q..

[52]  H. Foerster,et al.  Wissen und Gewissen : Versuch einer Brücke , 1993 .

[53]  Mark Keil,et al.  Pulling the Plug: Software Project Management and the Problem of Project Escalation , 1995, MIS Q..

[54]  Klaus Wimmer.  Conceptual modelling based on ontological principles , 1992 .

[55]  Martin Wight,et al.  Power politics , 1978 .

[56]  T C Ormerod,et al.  Enhancing the usability of a task analysis method: a notation and environment for requirements specification. , 1998, Ergonomics.

[57]  M. Lynne Markus,et al.  Power, politics, and MIS implementation , 1987, CACM.

[58]  Marian David,et al.  Truth: A Primer , 1995 .

[59]  Eldon Y. Li,et al.  Output-driven information system planning: a case study , 2001, Inf. Manag..