Communicating Ideas in Computer-Supported Modeling Tasks: A Case Study with BPMN

The role of semiotic engineering in software engineering

“…Ferreira et al [9] have combined and applied Semiotic Inspection Modeling (SIM) [24], Cognitive Dimensions of Notations (CDN) Framework [6], and Discourse Analysis (DA) [10] to ARIS Express (AE) [3], in modeling tasks with Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) [7], in order to analyze the tool from an HCI perspective and understand how communication is performed in software modeling. Indeed, they have focused on two dimensions:…”

“…First, the authors [9] determined that defining the purpose of models (the builder's intent) and the targeted consumers are two important challenges. Second, the evidence reveals that there should be a protocol between modelers and users in order to define which elements should be used or not, when and why.…”

“…In the domain of communication through models, Ferreira et al [9] expressed that there are mismatches between the user profile that AE supposedly targets (occasional users and beginners) and the one that emerges from an analysis of emission and reception of its designers' message. It was also shown that designers apparently believe that it suffices to support the expression of communication and the interpretation will take care of itself.…”

“…For example, there is a method in [9] used to evaluate CSMod tools and it is a combination of semiotic engineering and CDN. In the method, it is necessary to consider software engineering criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of artifacts for having rich communication.…”