Relating Domain Concepts Intensionally by Ordering Connections

摘要

The present paper suggests a modelling method for relating domain concepts intensionally. The method is based on modelling concepts formally and establishing two ordering connections between objects of the concepts. The former connection, we call the characteristics connection. It is a Galois connection and states how objects of the two concepts, describe each other. The latter connection, we call the information flow connection. It is a connection between classifications of objects of the two concepts. The connection states how specialization of one kind of objects, cannot imply generalization of objects succeeding in an information flow. We put the method to work by modelling the domain concepts of budgets and project plans, and we establish the two ordering connections between the models of these. In doing so, we reveal interesting domain knowledge. Hence, we believe that our contribution adds clarity and transparency to the methodology of domain engineering and conceptual modelling.