Research activity in 2002
The research activity of the Data Base and Information Systems group followed three main research directions:
- the analysis of methodologies and models for the design of integrated information systems - enterprise modelling
- dynamic taxonomies
- methods and tools to manipulate data in Web environments.
In the first area, starting from a deep analysis of the functional organisation of the enterprise in terms of a hierarchically structured set of organisation networks which describe the flow of objects (information or materials) manipulated in the enterprise, and its functional behaviour, i.e., the flow of control), we developed new versions of the M* methodology, i.e. the M*OBJECT and the M*COMPLEX methodologies.
These methodologies (and the related models) have been applied to integrated manufacturing environments which are based on the management of concurrent business processes. These business processes must be engineered in a systematic way to guarantee compliance with business requirements and overall system consistency and efficiency. In fact, engineering is a systematic approach to the design of products and their manufacturing processes to address the QCD (Quality, Cost, Delay) challenge faced by most industrial companies and thus improve customer satisfaction.
In this area, researches have been performed in the context of the Vth Framework IST European Project PARADIGMA (PARticipative Approach to Global DIsease MAnagement) which aims to develop and demonstrate, in a pilot study, an Internet based reference framework to share scientific resources and findings in the treatment of major diseases. It will provide a platform of information services - user oriented and optimised against social, cultural and technological constraints - supporting the Health Care Global System of the Euro-Mediterranean Community in a continuous improvement process.
In the area of enterprise modelling, the work has been performed in the context of the Vth Framework IST European Project UEML. The objective of the UEML project is to create a UEML Working Group which aims at :
- creating a European consensus on a Unified Enterprise Modelling Language and to facilitate interoperability in the frame of on-going standardisation efforts in this domain. The common language representing this consensus will be defined in terms of a core set of modelling constructs
- building an UEML demonstrator to promote, test, and collect comments, validate and improve the proposed Modelling Language Constructs.
- preparing the launching of project to define, implement, extend, the complete UEML.
The UEML Working Group will be composed of a core membership of 8 partners, open to industrial and academic members and to a UEML network of persons interested by the development of such a language. More information can be found at
