How to create meta-model in ARIS

Hi Adam,

just to clarify: Do you want to create an own new model type in ARIS, where you can show all relevant aspects like mixing processes, data, organisation, etc. If that is what you like to do, it is not possible in ARIS, because at the moment you can't define completely new model types.

On the other hand, if you are just interested in creating a meta model describing various aspects of your model architecture, I suggest you take a (UML) class diagram. Using class diagrams or other data models is a common approach to meta modelling. You can find an example of such a meta model created with ARIS describing parts of the ARIS SOA modelling method in my PhD thesis in chapter 3 (e.g. pages 53 and 54).

Hi Adam,

basically you are looking for a model where everything can be modelled with all objects and connections possible in ARIS. On a first glance, this sounds like an obvious requirement, but in reality it is not really useful. Just imagine having a database with 1,000 objects and 1,000 connections. How do you want to handle them within a single model? Just imagine the symbol bar including all available ARIS objects!

If you want to create a meta model including the original icons of the specific object types (so instead of having an UML class "function" putting the function symbol in their), you could do the following:

• create a sub-model of the general diagram
• define user defined symbols for each object type you want to include in your meta model

You can now use this general diagram to create your meta model.

From one hand, Sebastian is right. Even a metamodel having about 30 objects like the Archimate's looks quite scary:

And with ARIS not only the objects are 30 times more but also there are over hundred model types while in the above example it's only one.

However, I still believe that such a meta model could be extremely useful if contained in an ARIS database. The model(s) itself will have little communication value as a diagram but then finding method information would be much much easer. For example it's an everyday problem to find out what are the allowed connection types for certain object in different models depending on different methods. And this information is not in the Help. It's only in the Method Manual appendix but no way to get it at once as it would be if in an ARIS database using Relationship tab,  Occurrence tab,Find capability etc.

Having such information in ARIS database could help both new and experinced users unleash the full potential of the tool without investing a lot of their time experimenting. Many have little time or patience for that and swich to other less powerful tools.

I recall a feature in ARIS Toolset 7.0 that could be used to create a view of any object and any objects it was related to, unconstrained by the meta-model. I think it was called a Spider Diagram? But this was only a view and you couldn't create the relationships in the model. Still, it had its uses.

Ivo, I agree with you that it's not easy to find what other objects a particular object can relate to and in which model.

We create our own filter using the 'create from database' method and only have one definiton of each object type. So I can go into our meta-model database and find the object, then view it's relationships and see what other objects it can relate to and in which models. It takes a while to set up and maintain but is worth it in the long run.

We often use a meta-model when working with customers to define the ARIS methods and standards that they with to use. Here is an example using a technical terms model (you could also use a Structuring Model). You can also see where we have modified the ARIS conventions to change the name of an object type. We have a similar model showing the models used and their assignment relationships. This level of detail is very useful and just about manageable.

An entity-relationship model (e.g. an IE Data Model) would be a more formal way to do it, but it makes the diagram more complex and not everyone is comfortable with E-R models

Rob

Rob -- This is an interesting diagram.. Can you attach an ARIS Express version of this? The current jpg is not entirely readable.

Hi Shankar

Sorry the model was created in ARIS Business Architect so I can't load it into ARIS Express. The original graphic is readable but it must get compressed when uploaded to the community. If you want to drop me an email I will send you the original graphic file.

Regards

Rob

rob.davis@ids-scheer.com

Hi people,

During my master`s thesis, I have developed a set of metamodels of the ARIS Method (EPC, Organizational Chart and FAD) in EMF (Eclipse Modelling Framework). These metamodels are similar to the metamodels implemented in ARIS Toolset. As an example, consider the figure below:

If you want the metamodels, please send me an e-mail. I also wrote a paper explaining how to acquire such models from the ARIS toolset:

SANTOS JR., P. S. ; ALMEIDA, J. P. A. ; PIANISSOLLA, T. L. . Uncovering the Organizational Modelling and Business Process Modelling Languages in the ARIS Method. International Journal of Business Process Integration and Management (IJBPIM), 2010.

Oops.  An email address would be helpful...

JohnHolmberg@MyServiceScout.com

Thank you!

Hello all,  i just joined this forum and i find this modeling very interesting. I am trying to develop a tool for modelling information demand. Can anyone be of assistance to me? any ideas?.....i will appreciate. My email is ieidiahi@yahoo.com

Dear Paulo,

I'd be so grateful if you can send those files to me too here:

hedayatinia@gmail.com

Regards.

Hi Daniel

Send me an email to rob.davis@ids-scheer.com and I will send you the xml file

Regards

Rob

Hi Rob,

I would appriciate if you could send me the model above.

Thanks.

Regards,

Taivo

Taivo.Kangilaski@energia.ee

Hi Paulo,

Could you please send me the Meta models and the paper you had published in the IJBPIM?

My email is Damian.Gawlowski@marsh.com

Thanks,

Damian

Hi Rob

Could you please send me the Model and paper above. It's really very interesting.

My email is patricia.carolina.pires@bancobpi.pt

Thanks

PP

Hi all,

Nice topic about ARIS modelling and great inputs!

Regarding the scope I’ve usually work on (Functional, Application and Organization), we have defined our ARIS standard baseline (based on the ARIS Method) to communicate and identify the key objects to be modelled by all architects.

I agree that showing too much information on the same model can easily become too complex to manage and to communicate. To overcome this issue, we have instead been developing some capabilities to be able to aggregate the key elements on ARIS Mashzone.

For example, a common analysis requested is the capability to understand the impact between the Process layer, the Application layer and what objectives are responding to. Although by theory we could represent all these objects on one diagram, it would  be too complex to understand and it would be difficult to extract value from it.

What’s your input? Have you used tools as Mashzone to extract the most valuable information from the DB, instead of trying to have an all-in-one diagram to aggregate lots of information?

PS – Rob, can you send me also your Model?

Best regards,

GS

I've forgotten my email address: gonsantos@deloitte.pt

GS

Hello,

Very  nice topic.

The modeling is a very important phase in Enterprise Architecture  approach where we need to personalise the meta-model and enrich it sometimes.

So could  send me a copy of the paper.  thanks in advance.

This is my email: abdelghani.azri@gmail.com



Best regards.