Conceptual modelling based on ontological principles

Abstract

We propose a method for constructing domain knowledge and explain it by using the office domain as an example. Our method produces generic concepts which cover the domain within their scope. They serve as tools for modelling applications, and enable model builders to adopt comprehensive and unbiased points of view. These concepts possess such practical properties because they implement ontological principles, i.e. the most important ways of viewing and discriminating a domain's objects. When built in a principled manner, domain concepts are highly modular; they can be refined and assembled without overlap to form case models. Ontological principles can further guide model builders in decomposing a modelling task.