Generic Structures - an Approach to Achieve Adaptable Information Systems

Configuring usually ensures the flexibility of information systems. Within the configuration, the properties and the behaviour of system objects like database tables and functions are influenced to a certain extent by parameters that are adapted by the user. However, a more far-reaching adaptability is desirable. For example, it can be necessary to insert new system objects into an information system, like data structures, functions or interfaces, which do not exist yet. The development of new information systems allows an easy incorporation of new system objects. Even with concepts for module reusability like composing existing modules or generating software code, a new system development is often not feasible due to the time and cost expenditure. The aim is to create information systems with basic structures which allow to insert new system objects without re-programming the information system's source code. An appropriate approach is to use generic structures containing the conceptual model of the enterprise in a form which can be easily changed. Thus, information systems possess properties of a meta model which contains the logical information model of the enterprise in the form of instances. In this article classification, possibilities, advantages and limits of generic structures for information systems are discussed and their application in system implementations is presented.