Strawman reference model for change management of objects

Abstract

This article provides a strawman 1 1 This effort is intended as a good start towards a change management reference model; its treatment of change management is not complete. We wrote it to be consistent with OODBTG's OODB Reference Model. One may view it as a mini-reference model refining the Change. Management section of that reference model. Alternatively, it can stand alone as a separate reference model since it identifies and isolates an orthogonal abstraction. reference model which can be used for comparing and reasoning about change management systems. It begins with a glossary of change management terms, providing common ground for people to communicate about change management. A descriptive reference model consisting of a collection of characteristics that can be used, again by people, for comparing existing and future change management systems is then described. Finally, based on the descriptive reference model, we define a functional reference model. The functional reference model provides a much more precise description of how machines can realize generic change management operations. While the glossary and descriptive reference model are steps on the path to forming standards, the more precise model is closer to what is needed to provide interoperability (standards) for machines. We hope that the step-wise refinement exposition used in this paper, from terms through a descriptive reference model to an operational reference model, will provide a good roadmap for OODBTG or similar groups to reach consensus leading to standards in the area of change management.