Conceptual Modeling in a World of Models

Today�s world is a world of abstract models. We refer to models of the world when we communicate. We live and play and work in cyberspace�. An increasing number of us are busy with making models of the world: formal models and informal models, good models and lousy models. We all have to relate to a shared set of modeling concepts and rules for using those concepts in order to make ourselves understood, and to understand. An open question is what constitutes a preferred set of shared modeling concepts for information systems. For concepts to be widely shared they must relate to accepted theory. The theories of nformation systems are still unsettled. Recent developments, e.g., UML, indicate that the pressure for a theory of information systems is mounting beyond the previous efforts of the academic community, as seen in IFIP and other professional societies. This paper presents a framework of modeling concepts for information systems. The discussion is limited to information modeling, and does not comprise information processing issues.