Wiley Model-Driven Development with Executable UML 978-0-470-48163-9 Manuale Utente
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978-0-470-48163-9
Information Systems
Modeling
To provide a foundation for the discussions throughout this book, this chapter begins by defining
what is actually meant by the term information system. The focus is on model-driven engineering
of the software component of information systems. This chapter also introduces and describes the
very notion of modeling. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion about software engineering
processes, an important aspect of building successful information systems.
what is actually meant by the term information system. The focus is on model-driven engineering
of the software component of information systems. This chapter also introduces and describes the
very notion of modeling. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion about software engineering
processes, an important aspect of building successful information systems.
Definition of Information Systems
Information systems have played a key role in the history of computers and their use in every-
day human activities. It is hard to imagine even a small company, institution, or organization that
does not have a need for storing and using information of a different kind. We are all witnesses
of the tremendous improvement of computer and communication technology, which support
ever-increasing demands of human community for interchanging and utilizing information. It
is not necessary to discuss the role and importance of information systems such as healthcare
systems, enterprise systems, banking and financial systems, educational information systems,
customer-support systems, governmental systems, and many other kinds of information systems
(see Figure 1-1).
day human activities. It is hard to imagine even a small company, institution, or organization that
does not have a need for storing and using information of a different kind. We are all witnesses
of the tremendous improvement of computer and communication technology, which support
ever-increasing demands of human community for interchanging and utilizing information. It
is not necessary to discuss the role and importance of information systems such as healthcare
systems, enterprise systems, banking and financial systems, educational information systems,
customer-support systems, governmental systems, and many other kinds of information systems
(see Figure 1-1).
Trying to catch up with the importance and ever-emerging demand for improved functionality
and performance of such systems, the hardware and software technology for their implementation
seem to constantly stay behind. It has always been a question of how to improve the technology
(especially that for software development) to meet the users’ needs. Because this question defines
the scope of this book, before trying to answer it, it is necessary to set up the context and define what
information systems really are.
and performance of such systems, the hardware and software technology for their implementation
seem to constantly stay behind. It has always been a question of how to improve the technology
(especially that for software development) to meet the users’ needs. Because this question defines
the scope of this book, before trying to answer it, it is necessary to set up the context and define what
information systems really are.
First and foremost, information systems are systems. A system is a set of elements organized to
cooperate in order to accomplish a specific purpose. Elements of a system collaborate synergistically,
in a manner that provides a behavior and quality bigger than the sum of its parts. It is likely that a
cooperate in order to accomplish a specific purpose. Elements of a system collaborate synergistically,
in a manner that provides a behavior and quality bigger than the sum of its parts. It is likely that a
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