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Integrated Definition (IDEF)
Modeling Techniques
Ozgun Demirag
Andy Johnson
Dima Nazzal
Yen-Tai Wan
Outline
What is IDEF?
IDEF Family:



Overview
Examples
Strengths and Weaknesses
Rasmussen - Design Maps Definition
What is IDEF?
Definition: IDEF is the common name referring to
classes of enterprise modeling languages.
Objective: IDEF is used for modeling activities
necessary to support system analysis, design,
improvement or integration.
Originally, IDEF was developed to enhance
communication among people trying to understand
the system. Now, IDEF is being used for
documentation, understanding, design, analysis,
planning, and Integration.
IDEF History
In the 1970’s, IDEF0 originated in the U.S. Air
Force under the Integrated Computer Aided
Manufacturing(ICAM) program from a wellestablished graphical language, the
Structured Analysis and Design Technique
(SADT).
IDEF Family
IDEF Family of Methods:


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


IDEF0: for Function Modeling (purpose:description)
IDEF1: for Information Modeling.
(purpose:description)
IDEF1x: for Data Modeling. (purpose:design)
IDEF3: for Process Modeling. (purpose:description)
IDEF4: for Object-Oriented Design.
(purpose:design)
IDEF5: for Ontology Description Capture.
(purpose:description)
IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
IDEF0 models the decisions, actions, and
activities of an organization or system, in
order to communicate the functional
perspective of a system.
IDEF0 models are created as one of the first
tasks of a system development effort because
they describe:
the functions that are performed,
 what is needed to perform those functions,
IDEF0 was released as a standard for Function
Modeling by the Computer Systems Laboratory of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(1993)

IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
Syntax:

Context Diagram: is a model of the function at the
highest level of inputs, controls, outputs, and
mechanisms
Controls
Inputs
Function Name
Mechanisms
Outputs
• Inputs: items that trigger the activity
• Controls: guide or regulate the activity
• Mechanisms: systems, people,
equipment used to perform the activity
• Outputs: results of performing the
activity
IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
Decomposition Diagram: links together the
context diagrams
IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
STRENGTHS




The model has proven effective in detailing the system
activities for function modeling.
IDEF0 models provide an abstraction away from timing,
sequencing and decision logic. However, it is easy to use
IDEF0 for modeling activity sequences whenever needed.
(Order the activities from left to right in the decomposition
diagram).
Provides a concise description of systems, by using the
ICOMS. (Inputs, Controls, Output, Mechanism)
The hierarchical nature of IDEF0 allows the system to be
easily refined into greater detail until the model is as
descriptive as necessary for the decision making task.
IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
WEAKNESSES



IDEF models might be so concise that only the domain
experts can understand.
IDEF models are sometimes misinterpreted as representing
a sequence of activities.
The abstraction away from timing, sequencing and decision
logic leads to comprehension difficulties for the people
outside the domain.
IDEF0- Function Modeling
Method
EXAMPLE (source: [4])
IDEF1- Information Modeling
Method
IDEF1 is a method for both analyzing and
communicating the structure and semantics of
information within a system.
IDEF1 models are used to:




Identify what information is currently managed in a realworld system, both automated system components, and
non-automated objects (e.g. people).
Identify the rules for managing the information.
Identify deficiencies in the current management of the
information.
Specify what information will be managed in a TO-BE
implementation. (TO-BE implementation: Design of the
functional architecture)
IDEF1- Information Modeling
Method
Main IDEF1 Concepts

Entities: Represent the information maintained
in a system about the real-world objects

Distinguishing properties:



Attributes:



Persistent
May be individuated
Key
Non-key
Relations: Association between entities
IDEF1- Information Modeling
Method
IDEF1- Information Modeling
Method
STRENGTHS
 IDEF1 requires active participation of the
information users, which serves to accurately
model where and how the information is used and
managed.
 An effective method for documenting the
informational requirements of an enterprise,
providing a foundation for database design.
 IDEF1 enforces a modularity that eliminates the
incompleteness, imprecision, inconsistencies, and
inaccuracies found in the modeling process.
IDEF1x- Data Modeling Method
IDEF1X is a method for designing relational
databases.
IDEF1X Model: Graphical and Textual depiction of
“What must I know to do what I do?”
IDEF1X is most useful for logical database design
after the information requirements are known and
the decision to implement a relational database has
been made.
IDEF1X was released as a standard for Data Modeling
by the Computer Systems Laboratory of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology. (1993)
IDEF1x- Data Modeling Method
EXAMPLE (ref:[2])
IDEF1x- Data Modeling Method
EXAMPLE (ref:[2])
IDEF1x- Data Modeling Method
STRENGTHS





Powerful tool for data modeling.
IDEF1X don’t have numerous variants, unlike ER.
Depicts the rules governing the management of information.
Used to validate the concepts in the associated IDEF0
model.
Helps to discover underlying causes for problems.
WEAKNESSES


The modeler must be experienced in order to create good
models.
Not suited to serve as an AS-IS analysis tool.
IDEF1 (information Model) vs.
IDEF1x (Data Model)
Information Model
Data Model
focuses on:
Information collected, stored,
and managed by the organization
Logical relationships within the
organization reflected in the
information
focuses on:
Actual data elements in a
relational database
Representation & structure of
the data
used for:
Problem identification
Requirements definition
Information system design
used for:
Logical design of databases &
applications
Physical design of database
implementation
IDEF3- Process Description Model
“IDEF3 is a mechanism for collecting and documenting
processes.… IDEF3 captures the behavioral aspects of
an existing or proposed system.” (temporal information,
including precedence and causality relationships
associated with enterprise processes.)
“The resulting IDEF3 descriptions provide a structured
knowledge base for constructing analytical and design
models. (unlike simulation languages that build
predictive mathematical models, IDEF3 builds
structured descriptions.)”
“These descriptions capture information about what a
system actually does or will do and also provide for the
organization and expression of different user views of
the system.”
Source: http://www.idef.com/idef3.html
IDEF3- Process Description Model
The development of an IDEF3 Process Flow Description
consists of expressing facts, collected from domain
experts, in terms of five basic descriptive building
blocks.





Activity
Denoted as arcs
Logic
Denoted as junction boxes
Unit of Behavior
Denoted as boxes
Object State
Denoted as circles
State Transition
Denoted as arcs
Process
Description
Diagram
Object
State
Transition
Network
Source: http://www.idef.com/idef3.html
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Organizing Structure: Scenario
A scenario can be thought of as a recurring situation, a set of
situations that describe a typical class of problems addressed by an
organization or system, or the setting within which a process
occurs.
Example
Scenario:
Parts enter the shop ready for the primer coat to be applied. We
apply one very heavy coat of primer paint at a very high
temperature. The paint is allowed to dry in a bake oven after
which a paint coverage test is performed on the part. If the test
reveals that not enough primer paint has been sprayed on the
surface of the part, the part is re-routed through the paint shop
again. If the part passes the inspection, it is routed to the next
stop in the process.
Source: http://www.idef.com/idef3.html
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Process Description Diagram of the Example
Source: http://www.idef.com/idef3.html
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Object State Transition Network of the Example
Source: http://www.idef.com/idef3.html
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Other Example
Source: (Zakarian & Kusiak, 2001)
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Other Example
Source: (Bosilj-Vuksic’s , 2000)
IDEF3- Process Description Model
Discussion

The statement of IDEF3 sounds like …
Schema
Process
Is IDEF3 a
good way to
represent
process
reference
models ?
Model
Source: http://www.isye.gatech.edu/~lfm/8851/ISyE8851.html
IDEF4- O-O Design Method
IDEF4 method is designed to assist in creating objectoriented programming software.
IDEF4 provides a framework for navigating an evolving
object-oriented design.
IDEF4 divides the object-oriented design activity into
discrete chunks. A graphical syntax highlights the design
decisions that must be made and their impact on other
perspectives of the design.
IDEF4 model consists of two submodels, the class
submodel and the method submodel. These two
structures capture all the information represented in a
design model.
IDEF4- O-O Design Method
IDEF5 - Ontology Description Method
An ontology is a domain vocabulary complete
with a set of precise definitions or axioms that
constrain the meanings of the terms sufficiently,
to enable consistent interpretation of the data
that use that vocabulary.
General ontology construction steps:
1. catalog the terms;
2. capture the constraints that govern how
those terms can be used to make descriptive
statements about the domain; and
3. build the model.
IDEF5 - Ontology Description
Method
The IDEF5 ontology development process consists
of the following activities.
Data Collection of raw data needed for
ontology development.
Data Analysis to facilitate ontology extraction.
Initial Ontology Development to develop a
preliminary ontology from the data gathered.
Ontology Refinement and Validation.
REALITY
NARRATIVE
MODEL
INTERVENE
PLANNING
MODEL
The
“modeling
cycle”
SYMBOLIC
MODEL
COMPUTATIONAL
MODEL
I DEF
NORMATIVE
MODEL
SYNTHETIC
MODEL
Rasmussen - Design Maps
Definition
Map 1: Domain, tasks, and user in
context
Map 2: Knowledge base
Map 3: Road maps for navigation
Map 4: Knowledge representation in
design
Map 5: Display composition
Side by Side Comparison
Map 1: Domain, tasks,
and user in context
Map 2: Knowledge base
Map 3: Road maps for
navigation
Map 4: Knowledge
representation in design
Map 5: Display
composition
IDEF0 (IDEF Function
Modeling)
IDEF1 (IDEF
Information Modeling)
IDEF1X (IDEF Data
Modeling)
IDEF3 (IDEF Process
Modeling)
IDEF4 (IDEF ObjectOriented Design)
IDEF5 (IDEF Ontology
Description Capture)
Rasmussen Map 1 compared to
IDEF0- Diagram
Decomposition Diagram: links together the
context diagrams
Means-Ends
Goals,
constraints
Abstract
functions
General
functions
Physical
processes
Physical form
Representations/Properties
WHY
WHY
WHAT
WHY
WHAT
HOW
WHAT
HOW
HOW
Key
Both require an expert in the field to
use and understand the model

This is a result of the method being a very
high level concept and developing the
details for any single application is not a
trivial matter
Advantage of IDEF
IDEF 5 attempts to incorporate the
vocabulary of the specific application
References



Colquhoun, G.J, Baines, R.W, Crossley, Roger, A State of the
Art Review of IDEF0, International Journal of Computer
Integrated Manufacturing, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1993, pp. 252-264.
(2) Introduction to IDEF Methodology, USACE LCM
Manager’s Guide Version-2
http://www.usace.army.mil/ci/impolicy/lcmis/lcma3.pdf
(4) Bosilj-Vuksic’s paper
(http://oliver.efzg.hr/~vbosilj/iceis2000.pdf)