Interaction Models Matter in the Evaluation of Quality of Conceptual Models

Abstract

Conceptual models are key artefacts in software production processes that are based on MDD technology. These conceptual models are used as inputs in the process of code generation. Therefore, it is very important to be able to evaluate the quality of the models in order to improve the quality of the corresponding final applications. The development of an effective quality assurance technique requires knowing what kind of defects may occur in practice in the conceptual models used in MDD approaches. Conventional Conceptual Modeling approaches focus on the detection of defects that comes from either the data perspective or the process perspective. However, the interaction perspective also matters! This paper presents a list of technical defects that can be identified when performing the interaction modeling of an MDD environment. This list of defects provides an initial approach to evaluate the completeness of Interaction Models with respect to their use for the automatic generation of a final application. This paper also presents an example that illustrates how the completeness of an Interaction Model can be evaluated through defect detection.