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Object Role Modeling

Sander van der Rijnst

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Outline Background

Object Role Modeling method

Process Deliverable Diagram

Example

Discussion

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Background

First concept created by Nijssen in the 1970sNatural language Information Analysis Method (NIAM)

Formalized in 1989 by HalpinObject Role Modeling

Several dialects existsFCO-IM, FORM

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Timeline

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Thee basic principles

Communication OrientedDoes not model reality, but models the communication about reality (i.e. the facts and nothing but the facts)

ConceptualityAll conceptual aspects of the communication should be modelled

ValidationUsers should be able to validate that their communication is correctly modelled without having to understand the model itself

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Object Role Modeling

Is based on concrete information and examples in documents and conversations

Is in the form of a language, e.g. English, Dutch or even Chinese

Is in the natural language of the Universe of Discourse

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Traditional Waterfall Development Approach

Requirements

Design

Implement

Test

Release

Feasibility

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Design phase

Conceptualinformation

model

Verbalizationof

examples

Universeof

Discourse

pers

pect

ive o

fd

om

ain

exp

ert

pers

pect

ive o

fin

form

ati

on

an

aly

st

interviewlevel

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Notation

Supported by CASE-tools

Person Instrument

Person Instrument

N NEmployee Department

Employee Department

N 1

... plays ... ... works for ...

plays works for

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Process Deliverable

Diagram

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Example

“Room 211 of building MIN has a capacity of 80 seats”

“MIN is an abbreviation of Minnaert”

“Room 211 of building MIN is of the room type amfitheater”

“Room 211 of building MIN is equipped with a PC”

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Let’s model (1)

Capacity“Room 211 of building MIN has a capacity of 80 seats” Room Number

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Let’s model (2)

Capacity“Room 211 of building MIN has a capacity of 80 seats” Room Number“Room 211 of building MIN” Room identifier Building

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Let’s model (3)

Capacity“Room 211 of building MIN has a capacity of 80 seats” Room Number“Room 211 of building MIN” Room identifier Building

“building MIN” Code

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Conclusion

Fact-oriented modeling approach

Communication Oriented

Conceptual level

User Validated

Derive ERM models or UML class diagrams

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Questions?