The Diversity of Enterprise Modeling – a Taxonomy for Enterprise Modeling Actions

Abstract

Both researchers and practitioners have recognized the need for developed knowledge about enterprise modeling. Therefore it is necessary to increase the understanding of various actions that are performed during enterprise modeling, their meaning, and their diversity. This paper proposes a taxonomy with a conceptual structure in two dimensions (hierarchy and process) that could be used to increase the knowledge about enterprise modeling actions. The taxonomy introduces a terminology that enables a better understanding of the modeling actions for a clear purpose. One important aspect of the taxonomy is to create visibility and traceability of decisions made during enterprise modeling activities. These modeling decisions have previously been of a more tacit nature and the taxonomy is supposed to make the rationale behind different modeling decisions explicit and understandable.Inventory: to make a list of something within a domain. This modeling action is also multifunctional.Relate: to decide reciprocal and mutual conditions within or between different entities. This modeling action is also multifunctional. Collecting actionsObserve: to make observations through questioning or no questions, in writing or no writing, or in dialogue or no dialogue. Decisive actionsDefine: to make a standpoint about what something is. To define something also means to express what something is not! This modeling action is also multifunctional. Formalize: to give something legitimacy through a formal motivation. A decisive action about what should be formally valid.Prioritize: to place something in order of precedence, i.e., to say that something is more important.Settle: to decide and establish something as valid, e.g., to settle earlier definitions or priorities.Informative actions Advice: to give prescriptive information or transfer prescriptive knowledge about something.Present: to give information or transfer knowledge about something. Shaping actionsAdapt: to adjust something according to changing properties.Compile: to bring together parts into a wholeness, i.e., arrange the parts into a systematic structure. It is a stronger systematic structure than the compile as an arranging action. This modeling action is also multifunctional, see arranging actions above.Characterize: to decide and describe the properties of an artifact. This modeling action is also multifunctional, see arranging actions above.Define: to make a standpoint about what something is. To define something also means to express what something is not! This modeling action is also multifunctional, see decisive actions above.Identify: to perceive something as an entity based on certain properties. Properties can be of tacit nature to start with but then they become explicit during the identification. This modeling action is also multifunctional, see arranging actions above.Inventory: to make a list of something within a domain. This modeling action is also multifunctional, see arranging actions above.Relate: to decide reciprocal and mutual conditions within and/or b...