Use of Business Models within Model Driven Architecture
Model Driven Architecture is a framework dedicated for development of large and complex computer systems. It states and implements the principle of architectural separation of concerns. This means that a system can be modeled from three different but related to each other viewpoints. The viewpoint discussed in this paper is a Computation Independent one. MDA specification states that a model that shows a system from this viewpoint is a business model. Taking into account transformations foreseen by MDA, it should be useful for automation of software development processes. This paper discusses an essence of the Computation Independent Model (CIM) and the place of business models in the computation independent modeling. This paper considers four types of business models, namely, SBVR, BPMN, use cases and Topological Functioning Model (TFM). Business persons use SBVR to define business vocabularies and business rules of the existing and planned domains, BPMN to define business processes of both existing and planned domains, and use cases to define business requirements to the planned domain. The TFM is used to define functionality of both existing and planned domains. This paper discusses their capabilities to be used as complete CIMs with formally defined conformity between planned and existing domains.
