Abstract. The focus of this paper is not on the requirements of an information system to be developed, but rather on the requirements that apply to the modelling techniques used during information system development. We claim that in past and present, many information systems modelling techniques have been developed without a proper understanding of the requirements that follow from the development processes in which these techniques are to be used. This paper provides a progress report on our research efforts to obtain a fundamental understanding of the requirements mentioned. We discuss the underlying research issues, the research approach we use, the way of thinking (weltanschauung) that will be employed in finding the answers, and some first results.