Contexts for Concepts: Information Modeling for Semantic Interoperability

Conceptual information modeling is a well-established practice, aimed at preparing the implementation of information systems, the specification of electronic message formats, and the design of information processes. Today’s ever more connected world however poses new challenges for conceptual information models, as different models should enable mutual connection and reconciliation, even when developed in totally different situations. This paper argues that the ‘vertical’ bias of today’s conceptual information modeling practice diverts models from meeting this new, ‘horizontal’ need. As an alternative, a conceptual information modeling approach is described that is simultaneously unconventional as well as interoperable with existing approaches. The key to this approach is conceptual context-awareness. It is based on ideas from the Metapattern work [31].