Construct an enterprise model framework using XML schema hierarchical tree

Abstract

Due to the rapid development of information technology in this internet era, various kinds of legacy business application systems operating in the enterprise have been re-designed and integrated. Many companies are seeking a new methodology that can effectively reduce human resource, development time and cost. In this paper, we propose an enterprise model-based software development and application framework using the XML Schema hierarchical tree. The feature of inheritance in the XML Schema language allows us to define the class about an enterprise model. With a prototype of Enterprise Model Framework (EMF) that can manage the class and instance from a web server, software developers can rapidly construct a new information system. To evaluate the feasibility of the proposed methodology, this research implements an EMF-based electronic document management system. The results of this paper have five benefits of software development mode using the XML Schema hierarchical tree: (1) the XML Schema specification can simultaneously define an enterprise model and the structure of an XML document; (2) increase the effectiveness of developing application systems; (3) promote more integration in different systems; (4) operate non-structure datum with an enterprise; (5) various resources with an enterprise can be made to easily utilise, access and manage.