Variations in Conceptual Modeling: Classification and Ontological Analysis

Conceptual models are aimed at providing formal representations of a domain. They are mainly used for the purpose of understanding and communicating about requirements for information systems.Conceptual modeling has acquired a large body of research dealing with the semantics of modeling constructs, with the goal to make models better vehicles for understanding and communication. However, it is commonly known that different people construct different models of a given domain although all may be similarly adequate. The premise of this paper is that variations in models reflect vagueness in the criteria for deciding how to map reality into modeling constructs. Exploring model variations as such can contribute to research that deals with the semantics of modeling constructs.This paper reports an exploratory study in which empirically obtained model variations were qualitatively analyzed and classified into variation types. In light of the identified variation types, we analyzed two ontology-based modeling frameworks in order to evaluate their potential contribution to a reduction in variations. Our analysis suggests that such frameworks may contribute to more conclusive modeling decision making, thus reducing variations. However, since there is no complete consistency between the two frameworks, in order to reduce variations, a single framework should be systematically applied

Knowledge Management Culture Audit: Capturing Tacit Perceptions and Barriers

A firm’s capacity to efficiently create value from knowledge held by employees and embedded in processes is a key strategic resource. Knowledge Management (KM) seeks to systematically improve that capacity. The first critical step for implementing KM in organizations is the Knowledge Audit. Current audit practices use interviews and questionnaires to understand the KM processes that the organization holds and improved KM processes it wishes to implement, and to explore the organizational culture. In this paper we introduce the concept of capturing tacit cultural perceptions to identify cultural barriers that may interfere with a KM initiative. For this purpose, an analysis instrument was developed and used during the KM audit in a large international software development organization

Heuristic Principles and Differential Judgments in the Assessment of Information Quality

Information quality (IQ) is a multidimensional construct and includes dimensions such as accuracy, completeness, objectivity, and representation that are difficult to measure. Recently, research has shown that independent assessors who rated IQ yielded high inter-rater agreement for some information quality dimensions as opposed to others. In this paper, we explore the reasons that underlie the differences in the “measurability” of IQ. Employing Gigerenzer’s “building blocks” framework, we conjecture that the feasibility of using a set of heuristic principles consistently when assessing different dimensions of IQ is a key factor driving inter-rater agreement in IQ judgments. We report on two studies. In the first study, we qualitatively explored the manner in which participants applied the heuristic principles of search rules, stopping rules, and decision rules in assessing the IQ dimensions of accuracy, completeness, objectivity, and representation. In the second study, we investigated the extent to which participants could reach an agreement in rating the quality of Wikipedia articles along these dimensions. Our findings show an alignment between the consistent application of heuristic principles and inter-rater agreement levels found on particular dimensions of IQ judgments. Specifically, on the dimensions of completeness and representation, assessors applied the heuristic principles consistently and tended to agree in their ratings, whereas, on the dimensions of accuracy and objectivity, they not apply the heuristic principles in a uniform manner and inter-rater agreement was relatively low. We discuss our findings implications for research and practice

THE ROLE OF DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE IN REQUIREMENTS ELICITATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Requirements elicitation is the first activity in the requirements engineering process. It includes learning, surfacing and discovering the requirements of the stakeholders of the developed system. The elicitation process involves actors of different roles, backgrounds and domain knowledge. Therefore, it is a communication-intensive process. Overcoming communication barriers between analysts and stakeholders, partly caused by a gap in their domain knowledge, is essential. Various elicitation techniques exist for helping analysts extract the requirements from the different stakeholders. During the elicitation process, the analysts are not limited to one specific technique and can use different techniques according to the situation, time and resources available. Analysts may have domain knowledge prior to the elicitation process. This prior knowledge may have an impact on the elicitation process, affecting the analysts’ decisions and conduct within it. This paper reports an exploratory study in which the perceived and actual effects of prior domain knowledge on the requirements elicitation process were examined. The results indicate that domain knowledge clearly affects the elicitation process and the way the analysts conduct the elicitation. The findings provide insights as to both positive and negative effects of domain knowledge on requirements elicitation, as perceived by participants with and without domain knowledge. Furthermore, these insights can be utilized in practice for supporting analysts in the elicitation process and for forming requirements analysis teams. They highlight the different contributions that can be provided by analysts with different levels of domain knowledge in requirements analysis teams and the synergy that can be gained by forming heterogeneous teams of analysts with and without domain knowledge

IS Method Design for Knowledge Management Systems

Literature on information systems (IS) method design provides little guidance for constructing and validating IS related methods based on components of existing methods. Method engineering, including method characteristics framework and super method, is a methodology for constructing holistic new methods from existing ones, based on the elicitation and adaptation of components from the existing methods. However, while these methodologies focus on how to conceptualize, develop, adapt, and assemble new methods from existing method components, we believe that the newly formed methods need to be rigorously grounded in the field and hence should be iteratively developed and inductively validated based on empirical data. This paper proposes combining several grounded theory tools with methodologies of constructing new methods, for forming a comprehensive methodology for IS method design, so the methods created with it will be grounded. The new methodology is illustrated by designing a requirements engineering method for knowledge management systems

Learning Human Aspects of Collaborative Software Development

Collaboration has become increasingly widespread in the software industry as systems have become larger and more complex, adding human complexity to the technological complexity already involved in developing software systems. To deal with this complexity, human-centric software development methods, such as Extreme Programming and other agile methods, have been developed and implemented. Aiming to prepare future software developers for today\u27s software industry, this paper presents a framework for developing collaborative learning tools and activities, and examples that were developed for the course Human Aspects of Software Engineering in order to assist students in learning collaborative software development. The learning processes and knowledge construction undergone by the students in the study were examined empirically, both in general and with respect to collaboration in particular. Results indicate that, based on their individual and group in-class experiences and reflections, students developed skills and constructed both practical and theoretical knowledge relating to successful collaborative software development

Enhancing Knowledge Intensive Business Processes via Knowledge Management Audit

Enhancing organizational Knowledge-Intensive Business Processes (KIBP) for gaining competitive advantages is often performed through Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives. These KM initiatives aim at developing organizational KM infrastructure of KIBP, starting from knowledge audit that is a necessary first step in any KM initiative. Current knowledge audit methods address either technological-related or social-related aspects. None of them was found to deal with the triple perspective of KM infrastructure: culture, knowledge processes and information technology, in the context of KIBP. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework and practical tools for knowledge audit that aim at enhancing KIBP by embedding KM capabilities within them. As KM infrastructure integrates social and technological disciplines, we developed a combined Socio-Engineering Knowledge Audit Methodology (SEKAM) for a systematic audit of the KM infrastructure in the context of KIBP. This methodology is illustrated through knowledge audit in a large high-tech global organization

Enhancing Software Architecture Review Process via Knowledge Management

Software architecture is considered to have a significant influence on the final software product’s quality. A critical phase in ensuring and validating the quality of a suggested architecture is architecture review, conducted by experienced architects. While many evaluation methods have been researched thus far in the context of architecture review, little attention has been given to the review process and to the knowledge-related aspects embedded within it. In this paper we explore and analyze the architecture review process based on literature as well as empirical evidence obtained in a case study conducted in a large software development firm. For the aim of enhancing the review process to a systematic and scalable process, as well as expending its value to future architecture in addition to the reviewed artifacts, this research investigates the knowledge aspects of the review process and suggests a conceptual solution for enhancing the review process and embedding knowledge management within it

Teaching MBA Students the Use of Web2.0: The Knowledge Management Perspective

The new concepts and technologies of Web 2.0 attract researches in a variety of fields including education, business and knowledge management. However, while the Web 2.0 potential in the education discipline has been widely studied, in the management discipline the Web 2.0 business value has not been fully acknowledged. This research suggests an approach for teaching Web 2.0 concepts in a Knowledge Management (KM) course for MBA students, introducing the Web 2.0 potential within business context. The paper describes MBA students’ perceptions and attitudes regarding Web 2.0 concepts and how they evolved while being engaged in Web 2.0 practices. The findings indicate that most of the students were only partly aware of the Web 2.0 environments benefits at first, especially within organizational context. Moreover, for some of them, participating in the course’s social website required overcoming personal barriers. During the course, students gained new perspectives of the Web 2.0 phenomenon beyond its technological merits. Most of them acknowledged the potential of Web 2.0 within organizational context and embedded Web 2.0 principles in their KM final projects