On Views, Diagrams, Programs, Animations, and Other Models

Abstract

Humanity has long since used models in different shapes and forms to understand, redesign, communicate about, and shape, the world around us; including many different social, economic, biological, chemical, physical, and digital aspects. This has resulted in a wide range of modeling practices. When the models as used in such modeling practices have a key role to play in the activities in which these modeling practices are ‘embedded’, the need emerges to consider the effectiveness and efficiency of such processes, and speak about modeling capabilities. In the latter situation, it becomes relevant to develop a thorough understanding of the artifacts involved in the modeling practices/capabilities. One field in which models play (an increasingly) important role is the field of system development (including software engineering, information systems engineering, and enterprise design management). In this context, we come across notions, such as views, diagrams, programs, animations, specifications, etc. The aim of this paper is to take a fundamental look at these notions. In doing so, we will argue that these notions should actually be seen as specific kinds of models, albeit for fundamentally different purposes.