3. Introduction to Modeling 1. Plan for Today's Class 2 ... - Courses

3. Introduction to Modeling
Page 12 of 12
26. To Summarize: The Good News About Models
• Models describe a common understanding
• Models help define requirements, identify design weaknesses and design improvements
• Models can facilitate prototyping, reduce development and maintenance costs
• Models can identify reusable patterns and artifacts
27. And the Bad News About Models
• The intellectual challenges of working with abstractions and models and meta-models can become
addictive
• As a result, analysts and designers can engage in endless debates about modeling techniques and
the means of modeling too often become ends in themselves
• Furthermore, many modeling techniques come with either an explicit or implied methodology for
its application that may be limiting for some kinds of models – and so we find ourselves
restricting our designs to suit the modeling technique
• Likewise, since approaches to modeling reflect personal and philosophical approaches to
understanding and solving problems the preference for a particular modeling technique may lead
it to be applied indiscriminately and inappropriately
28. For Next Lecture: Business Patterns and Reuse
• remainder of DE Chapter 3
• Assignment 1: Pattern Scavenger Hunt
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1/26/2005