Quality measures for ETL processes: from goals to implementation

Extraction transformation loading (ETL) processes play an increasingly important role for the support of modern business operations. These business processes are centred around artifacts with high variability and diverse lifecycles, which correspond to key business entities. The apparent complexity of these activities has been examined through the prism of business process management, mainly focusing on functional requirements and performance optimization. However, the quality dimension has not yet been thoroughly investigated, and there is a need for a more human-centric approach to bring them closer to business-users requirements. In this paper, we take a first step towards this direction by defining a sound model for ETL process quality characteristics and quantitative measures for each characteristic, based on existing literature. Our model shows dependencies among quality characteristics and can provide the basis for subsequent analysis using goal modeling techniques. We showcase the use of goal modeling for ETL process design through a use case, where we employ the use of a goal model that includes quantitative components (i.e., indicators) for evaluation and analysis of alternative design decisions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Rumour Processes on N

We study four discrete time stochastic systems on \bbN modeling processes of rumour spreading. The involved individuals can either have an active or a passive role, speaking up or asking for the rumour. The appetite in spreading or hearing the rumour is represented by a set of random variables whose distributions may depend on the individuals. Our goal is to understand - based on those random variables distribution - whether the probability of having an infinite set of individuals knowing the rumour is positive or not

THE PENSION SYSTEM FOR FARMERS IN ROMANIA FACTS AND PERSPECTIVES

The implementation of performance-based budgeting as a fiscal policy goal involves, among others, raising predictability in terms of the size and spending manner of public financial resources, including farmers’ pensions. At the same time, social responsibility requires the government to pay more attention to the impact of operations undertaken economically, socially and environmentally. Amid these premises, this paper approaches the following: setting coordinates for the current pension system for farmers, highlighting the role of the government in managing and financing this system, assessing its viability by using a linear statistical model and extrapolations.pension, farmers, statistical modeling

Language Modeling Approaches to Information Retrieval

This article surveys recent research in the area of language modeling (sometimes called statistical language modeling) approaches to information retrieval. Language modeling is a formal probabilistic retrieval framework with roots in speech recognition and natural language processing. The underlying assumption of language modeling is that human language generation is a random process; the goal is to model that process via a generative statistical model. In this article, we discuss current research in the application of language modeling to information retrieval, the role of semantics in the language modeling framework, cluster-based language models, use of language modeling for XML retrieval and future trends

Data-dependent in role-based goal modeling

Role-based goal modeling demonstrates an improvement on stakeholders’ role representation and its data element in modeling a system to-be. Since the requirements might be contributed from multi stakeholders, several goals are possible to rely on similar sources of requirements. In another scenario, other stakeholders may interact with the outcome from other sub goals, where this demonstrates the occurrence of dependency. Dependency implies different feasibility and adequacy of each goal and sub goal. Data dependency happens when the data can either be an input or output from one goal to another goal. Consequently, the data has been changed or intervened from one goal to another. This paper discusses the integration of data element into role-based goal modeling from the aspect of: (i) how to form the data dependency in role-based goal realization graph and (ii) how to assess the new formation in terms of feasibility and adequacy. The conflict and priority of the data dependency will be determined in order to estimate the complexity and risk along the process. This new improvement of goal modeling will be validated using a real case study taken from Plant Integrated System

Space-time numerical simulation and validation of analytical predictions for nonlinear forced dynamics of suspended cables

This paper presents space-time numerical simulation and validation of analytical predictions for the finite-amplitude forced dynamics of suspended cables. The main goal is to complement analytical and numerical solutions, accomplishing overall quantitative/qualitative comparisons of nonlinear response characteristics. By relying on an approximate, kinematically non-condensed, planar modeling, a simply supported horizontal cable subject to a primary external resonance and a 1:1, or 1:1 vs. 2:1, internal resonance is analyzed. To obtain analytical solution, a second-order multiple scales approach is applied to a complete eigenfunction-based series of nonlinear ordinary-differential equations of cable damped forced motion. Accounting for both quadratic/cubic geometric nonlinearities and multiple modal contributions, local scenarios of cable uncoupled/coupled responses and associated stability are predicted, based on chosen reduced-order models. As a cross-checking tool, numerical simulation of the associated nonlinear partial-differential equations describing the dynamics of the actual infinite-dimensional system is carried out using a finite difference technique employing a hybrid explicit-implicit integration scheme. Based on system control parameters and initial conditions, cable amplitude, displacement and tension responses are numerically assessed, thoroughly validating the analytically predicted solutions as regards the actual existence, the meaningful role and the predominating internal resonance of coexisting/competing dynamics. Some methodological aspects are noticed, along with a discussion on the kinematically approximate versus exact, as well as planar versus non-planar, cable modeling

Requirements analysis process using role-based goal modeling

Requirements analysis is the process of analyzing the requirements of various stakeholders that represent the specification of system behavior. This must be stated precisely in order to proceed to the design phase. It is noted that the current process of requirements analysis is not sufficient for identifying and representing the existence of multiple stakeholders, which could lead to various conflicts and overlapping requirements. Furthermore, the involvement of various stakeholders normally leads to inconsistencies and misinterpretation of requirements. Therefore, this study is conducted to enhance goal modeling representation, namely role-based goal modeling. Role-based goal modeling highlights each stakeholder’s role identification in discovering the intentions and requirements of various stakeholders including the integration of data elements in order to determine the dependency of data when dealing with multiple stakeholders. An Integrated Plantation System was selected as a case study for this research with participation from different stakeholders. Besides that, the Integrated Learning Management System and NIMSAD approaches were used to evaluate the proposed method. From the result, it is found that role-based goal modeling showed improvement in deriving high feasibility (five goals) and high adequacy (one goal) requirements for implementation. The integration of data elements indicates high complexity when multiple stakeholders interact with the same data element. In sum, role-based goal modeling can facilitate the process of analyzing and prioritizing requirements from multiple stakeholders in the early stages of the development process

A Generic Language for Query and Viewtype Generation By-Example

In model-driven engineering, powerful query/view languages exist to compute result sets/views from underlying models. However, to use these languages effectively, one must understand the query/view language concepts as well as the underlying models and metamodels structures. Consequently, it is a challenge for domain experts to create queries/views due to the lack of knowledge about the computer-internal abstract representation of models and metamodels. To better support domain experts in the query/view creation, the goal of this paper is the presentation of a generic concept to specify queries/views on models without requiring deep knowledge on the realization of modeling languages. The proposed concept is agnostic to specific modeling languages and allows the query/view generation by-example with a simple mechanism for filtering model elements. Based on this generic concept, a generic query/view language is proposed that uses role-oriented modeling for its non-intrusive application for specific modeling languages. The proposed language is demonstrated based on the role-based single underlying model (RSUM) approach for AutomationML to create queries/views by-example, and subsequently, associated viewtypes to modify the result set or view