Unified Enterprise Modelling Language Research Articles

An ontology for enterprise and information systems modelling

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) aims to support precise semantic definition of a wide variety of enterprise- and IS-modelling languages. In the longer run, it is also intended as a hub for integrated use of enterprise and information system (IS) models expressed in different languages. To achieve this, UEML provides a common ontology that interrelates the semantics of many existing modelling languages. This paper presents the motivation and background for the UEML work. It then presents the structure and contents of UEML's evolving common ontology, the Unified Enterprise Modelling Ontology (UEMO), which has been established through analyses of 130 modelling constructs from a selection of 10 enterprise- and IS-modelling languages. It goes on to discuss the current state of UEMO and its further evolution. Finally, conclusions and paths for further work are offered.

An ontology for enterprise and information systems modelling

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) aims to support precise semantic definition of a wide variety of enterprise- and IS-modelling languages. In the longer run, it is also intended as a...

New perspectives in ontological analysis: Guidelines and rules for incorporating modelling languages into UEML

Ontological analysis of modelling languages has been mainly used for evaluating quality of modelling language w.r.t. one specific upper ontology. Generally speaking this evaluation has been done by identifying the coverage of the modelling language constructs w.r.t. the ontology and vice-versa. However, a quite limited support has been developed for performing the ontological analysis task. Specifically, various ontologies used for ontological analysis are not associated to a machine readable format; the coverage of modelling language constructs is mostly provided by informal tables mapping one construct on to one ontological concept; the way in which this coverage task is undertaken is poorly specified (resulting in distinct results for distinct experts involved), and finally, preventing any ontology enrichment for dealing with some specialised language constructs. This limited support also prevents application of ontological analysis outcomes to problems and domains dealing with interoperability, integration and integrated usage of enterprise and IS models, which is today one of the key aspects for making interoperable, maintainable and evolvable inter and intra enterprise software systems. The paper provides an overview of the Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) approach, which introduces advanced support to ontological analysis of modelling languages. The paper is specifically focused on the task of ontological analysis of modelling languages (named incorporation of modelling languages) by introducing and explaining several guidelines and rules for driving the task: therefore, not all the aspects of the UEML approach will be discussed through the paper. The guidelines and rules are illustrated by incorporation of three selected modelling constructs from IDEF3, a well known language for specifying enterprise processes.

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language—Overview and further work

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) aims at supporting integrated use of enterprise and IS models expressed using different languages. To achieve this aim, UEML offers a hub through which modelling languages can be connected, thereby paving the way for also connecting the models expressed in those languages. This paper motivates and presents the most central parts of the UEML approach: a structured path to describing enterprise and IS modelling constructs; a common ontology to interrelate construct descriptions at the semantic level; a correspondence analysis approach to estimate semantic construct similarity; a quality framework to aid selection of languages; a meta-meta model to integrate the different parts of the approach; and a set of tools to aid its use and evolution. The paper also discusses the benefits of UEML and points to paths for further work.

Interoperability in enterprise modelling: Translation, elementary constructs, meta-modelling and UEML development

Nowadays, one of the important objectives of research in the enterprise modelling domain is the development of a unified language, often called UEML (Unified Enterprise Modelling Language). UEML is expected to be a pivot language in order to manage the large amount of enterprise modelling languages and then to increase the interoperability in the domain of enterprise modelling. This paper is focused on one of the more illuminating aspects of UEML: the comparison of the constructs of the enterprise modelling language. Thus, the objective of this paper is to propose an approach allowing to provide some help concerning the identification of whose constructs are needed in UEML. This approach is based on the language meta-modelling, by using Unified Modelling Language (UML) language, and on the set theory. It is applied on a simple example of model translation between the SADT activity and the GRAI activity of GRAI nets.

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language – Overview and Further Work

The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) aims to support integrated use of enterprise and IS models expressed in a variety of languages. To achieve this aim, UEML provides a hub through which different languages can be connected, thereby paving the way for connecting the models expressed in those languages. UEML offers a structured approach to describing enterprise and IS modelling constructs, a common ontology to interrelate construct descriptions at the semantic level, a correspondence analysis approach to estimate semantic construct similarity, a quality framework to aid selection of languages, a meta-meta model to organise the UEML and a set of tools to aid its use and evolution. This paper presents an overview of UEML and points to paths for further work.

UECML: Unified Enterprise Competence Modelling Language

This paper introduces the principles of a unified language devoted to the area of competence-based enterprise modelling. The language, named UECML, for Unified Enterprise Competence Modelling Language, is intended to provide a neutral interface to enterprise modelling based on competences. Therefore, it is built on previous languages, especially Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) and provides constructs to cover process, resource, competence and enterprise entities. An example of the implementation of the proposed UECML is provided with its application to a producer of railway vehicles.

Interoperability in enterprise modelling: requirements and roadmap

Interoperability is today considered as a key issue in the domain of ICT for enterprise organisations. One key point in interoperability is enterprise modelling. This paper deals with this class of interoperability and, more precisely, with Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML). An analysis of existing solutions leads to the conclusion that there is no enterprise modelling theory supporting mapping between existing enterprise modelling formalisms and no tool for translation models. In conclusion, enterprise knowledge is segregated. A lot of enterprise modelling methods were developed on a practical basis, without identifying first the user requirements. The first contribution of this paper is to present a detail definition of what user requirements are to develop a unified language. Then, a framework for the classification and a methodology for collection of requirements are proposed. Moreover, attributes are assigned to requirements in order to evaluate them. The ten most important requirements are presented. The second contribution of this paper is to go further with presenting a roadmap for developing UEML using several approaches: top–down, bottom–up or a combined approach so-called hybrid approach. These three approaches are presented and compared.

A Unified Enterprise Modelling Language for Enhanced Interoperability of Enterprise Models

There is a serious backwardness in awareness, acceptance and wide use of the Enterprise Modelling (EM) technology in industry because enterprises cannot capitalise from previous modelling efforts. This situation hinders true enterprise integration, interoperability, and enterprise knowledge sharing. A Unified Enterprise Modelling Language, based on meta-modelling of existing EM Languages, would serve as an Interlingua between EM tools providing the business community with a common visual, template based language to be used on top of most commercial enterprise modelling and workflow software tools.

UEML: Towards a unified enterprise modelling language

The paper presents the rationale and principles of a unified language devoted to the area of Enterprise Modelling. The language, named UEML, for Unified Enterprise Modelling Language, is not intended to replace existing languages but is intended to provide a uniform interface to enterprise modelling tools and a neutral format for exchange of enterprise models. It therefore builds on previous languages and provides constructs to cover function/process, information, resource and organization/decision aspects of business entities. It is also aligned with results of ODP, CEN TC 310, ISO TC 184 and IFAC-IFIP GERAM efforts in the area of enterprise modelling and engineering.