Authors: Jeffrey Parsons, Yair Wand
Tags: 2010, classification, information processing model
Classification is a fundamental cognitive mechanism for organizing knowledge about the human environment. It is not surprising that, explicitly or implicitly, classification is a germane aspect of information systems analysis and design. However, no general guidance for identifying classes in system development is yet available. Cognitive principles have been suggested as a foundation to guide classification of static phenomena in domain (conceptual) modeling. However, this still leaves two gaps. First, it is not clear whether or how dynamic aspects of domain modeling can be guided by similar principles. Second, while the design of static aspects related to data is closely tied to classification concepts, such a close link to dynamic aspects does not yet exist. For example, even in object-oriented design, operations are only shown as features in class diagrams, but are no more than information. The actual design of processing elements is still not tied to classification, and is usually based on information exchange and activation of operations (as is manifested in interaction diagrams). In this paper we suggest how a generic view of information processing, which combines static and dynamic aspects, can be derived from cognitive principles of classification together with some ontological assumptions about the meaning of data. We then use this view to suggest an abstract architecture of information processing systems, and show how processing can be accomplished within this architecture.
Cite as:
Parsons J. and Wand Y. (2010). “An Information Processing Model Based on Classification and its Application to Information Systems Architecture,” in AIS SIGSAND, St. John’s, NL, Canada, May 29-30, 2010.
