Ontology-Based Rules for Object-Oriented Enterprise Modeling

The object-oriented approach has evolved as a software design and programming method. It was later adapted to systems analysis as a modeling method. Modeling in systems analysis is used to create a representation of the organizational domain for which the information system is developed. Such a model is termed an enterprise model. A modeling method comprises a modeling technique and a modeling process. The process is defined in terms of guidelines and rules on mapping knowledge about the modeled domain into the constructs of the modeling technique. While object-oriented modeling methods abound, their process aspect seems to be lacking. We believe that there are two reasons for this. First, the use of object concepts in analysis tends to confuse implementation and representation considerations. Second, the role of object-oriented concepts in modeling reality needs welldefined semantics. In this paper, we propose to anchor the semantics of object oriented modeling concepts in ontology, the branch of philosophy dealing with models of reality. We further suggest the use of a specific set of ontological premises and constructs. Based on the ontological model we derive rules for constructing enterprise models. The rules prescribe the identification of object classes, object properties, object interactions, composite objects, and sub-classification. The proposed object semantics and rules are independent of any specific method of systems analysis, notation, or any implementation of an object-oriented environment. Thus, the rules can be used in conjunction with any object-oriented modeling technique to create enterprise models.