Perceived vs. Measured Quality of Conceptual Schemas: An Experimental Comparison

Frequently the behaviour of an information system is functionally correct, but it does not meet some quality criteria, such as completeness, consistency, and usability. One way to enhance the capability of an information system is to consider its conceptual model quality as well as its functional behaviour. Conceptual model quality can be defined as a set of perceivable characteristics expressed with quantifiable parameters that may be objective and/or subjective. The aim of this empirical investigation is to evaluate and compare perceived and measured quality of different conceptual model versions of the same universe of discourse. This paper describes: a) a set of metrics (clarity, simplicity, expressiveness, minimality) applied to different versions of ER conceptual schemas, b) a framework enabling a comprehensive comparison of the conceptual schemas, c) an experimentation leading to the evaluation of the same schemas by information system (IS) stakeholders such as designers, end-u...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: ER
• Authors: Samira Si-Said Cherfi, Jacky Akoka, Isabelle Comyn-Wattiau
• Keywords: Conceptual Model, Conceptual Model Quality, Conceptual Schemas, ER 2007