A Conceptual Framework for Evolving Information Systems

In this paper, we will treat evolving information systems, which support the information needs of an evolving organization. Such a system is able to change at the same pace as the organization does, such that there is no need to interrupt the activities of the organization. Such a system supports changes of all timeand application-dependent aspects. We will present a conceptual framework of an approach to evolving information systems. The architecture of such a system will be explained, where we will make disctinctions between meta model and application model, and between world, action and behavioural aspects of these models. Furthermore, evolution management of application models will be discussed, whereby update is regarded as recording, correction or forgetting, and whereby state transitions are considered on three different levels, viz. the organizational level, the recording level and the correction level. A formal specification of this approach to evolution management will be provided too.