Combining top-down and bottom-up enterprise modelling

Abstract

Modeling approaches started to be used in a large scale around 40 years ago, using simple diagrams. Still the main focus in modelling is for intermediaries to document the knowledge as held by different stakeholders for further use, rather than for people that has the core knowledge themselves to use modeling for their own needs. Although top-down modeling by experts is useful e.g. for enterprise architecture and systems development, for modeling to have a larger effect in the representation and reuse of knowledge in organizations, we propose to enable all knowledge workers to be active modelers. This paper provides an overview of interactive models for knowledge articulation combined with supporting knowledge maturing as an approach to support bottom-up modeling, and gives an overview of the how this can be supported in an existing enterprise modeling environment. We also discuss necessary future development to make this a reality on a large scale.