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The contents of the latest issue of:

Journal of Database Management (JDM)
Official Publication of the Information Resources Management Association
Volume 20, Issue 1, January-March 2009
Published: Quarterly in Print and Electronically
ISSN: 1063-8016 EISSN: 1533-8010
Published by IGI Publishing, Hershey-New York, USA
www.igi-global.com/jdm

Editor-in-Chief: Keng Siau, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA

Impact factor of this journal: 1.854

Guest Editorial Preface:

Unified Modeling Language (UML) Topics: Cognitive Issues in UML Research

Dinesh Batra, Florida International University, USA

This is the second of the two special issues on the Unified Modeling Language (UML); the first appeared in the January-March 2008 issue of the Journal of Database Management (Batra, 2008), and included four papers on the topic. The first issue covered UML application topics: the use of UML in practice (Dobing & Parsons, 2008), the organizational inadequacies of UML (Smolander & Rossi, 2008), the need to maintain seamless traceability of business rules in UML (Loucopoulos & Kadir, 2008), and assessment of the effectiveness of domain models as aids to application models developed using UML (Reinhartz-Berger & Sturm, 2008). In the current issue, the three papers address cognitive and ontological concerns related to UML.

PAPER ONE:

Use Case Diagrams in Support of Use Case Modeling: Deriving Understanding from the Picture

Andrew Gemino, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Drew Parker, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Use case modeling in the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a popular text-based tool for systems analysis and design. Use cases can be used with or without supporting use case diagrams. This paper uses an experiment to study the effectiveness of including a use case diagram with a set of use cases. The Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning is used to hypothesize that the use case diagram improves the effectiveness of use cases for novice users by providing visual cues aiding model viewers in selecting and integrating relevant information. The level of understanding developed by participants viewing either uses cases or use cases with a supporting use case diagram was measured using comprehension, retention, and problem solving tasks.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/articles/details.asp?id=33131

PAPER TWO

Applying Learner-Centered Design Principles to UML Sequence Diagrams

Debra VanderMeer, Florida International University, USA
Kaushik Dutta, Florida International University, USA

The Unified Modeling Language has been shown to be complex and difficult to learn. The difficulty of learning to build the individual diagrams in the UML, however, has received scant attention. In this article, the authors consider the case of the UML sequence diagram. Despite the fact that these diagrams are among the most frequently used in practice, they are difficult to learn and build. In this article, the authors consider the question of why these diagrams remain so difficult to learn and build. Specifically, the authors analyze the process of learning to build sequence diagrams in the context of cognitive complexity theory. Based on this analysis, and drawing on the theory of learner-centered design, the authors develop a set of recommendations for presenting the sequence diagram building task to novice analysts to reduce the complexity of learning how to build them.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/articles/details.asp?id=33132

PAPER THREE

Ontology Based Object-Oriented Domain Modeling: Representing Behavior

Joerg Evermann, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Yair Wand, The University of British Columbia, Canada

An important step in developing the requirements of an information system is analyzing the application domain. In this article, conceptual models are used for representing an application domain. However, while languages for software design are available and widely used, no generally accepted language exists for conceptual modeling. This work suggests the use of object-oriented software modeling languages for conceptual modeling. Such use can support a more accurate transition from domain models to software models. As software-modeling languages were not intended for modeling application domains, their constructs lack the required semantics. While previous papers addressed the representation of structural elements of domains using object concepts, this paper addresses behavioral aspects, related to change and interaction. The proposed semantics are based on a mapping between ontological concepts that describe behavior and object-oriented constructs related to dynamics. Based !
 on these mappings, modeling rules are proposed to guide the modeler in creating ontologically well-formed models. The mappings and rules are exemplified using UML and are demonstrated using a case study.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/articles/details.asp?id=33133

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For full copies of the above articles, check for this issue of the Journal of Database Management (JDM) in your institution's library. This journal is also included in the IGI Global aggregated "InfoSci-Journals" database: www.infosci-journals.com. If your library is not currently subscribed to JDM, recommend JDM subscription http://www.igi-global.com/journals/details.asp?ID=198&mode=recommend to your library or "InfoSci-Journals" to your librarian.
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CALL FOR PAPERS

Mission of JDM:

The Journal of Database Management publishes original research on all aspects of database management, design science, systems analysis and design, and software engineering. The primary mission of JDM is to be instrumental in the improvement and development of theory and practice related to information technology, information systems, and management of knowledge resources. The journal is targeted at both academic researchers and practicing IT professionals.

Coverage of JDM:

JDM publishes three categories of papers: Research Paper, Research Note, and Research Review. The Research Paper section publishes papers with significant original research findings. The research must be complete and make substantial theoretical and/or empirical contributions to knowledge in the field. The Research Note section publishes original research that is complete but not as comprehensive as to meet the criteria of a full research paper (e.g., exploratory studies and methodological papers). Rigor and quality are still essential for Research Note. The Research Review section publishes novel, insightful, and carefully crafted articles that conceptualize research areas and synthesize prior research. Research review articles must provide new insights that advance our understanding of the research areas, and help in identifying and developing future research directions.

Topics of interest to the journal include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Agile Systems Development
Bio-Informatics
Cognitive Modeling
Component Engineering
Conceptual Modeling
Data Quality
Data Warehousing and Data Mining
Database for Advanced Applications
Database Management and Administration
Database Models and Query Languages
Database Security and Integrity
Design Science
Domain-Driven Development
E-Business and M-Commerce Models and Architectures
Empirical Software Engineering
Enterprise Systems and Supply Chain Integration
Extreme Modeling and Extreme Programming
Geographical Information Systems
Human-Computer Interaction
Heterogeneous and Distributed Database
Information and Knowledge Modeling
Intelligent Agents and Agent-Based Applications
Knowledge Engineering and Management
Method Engineering and Metamodeling
Object Oriented Methods and Methodologies
Requirements Engineering
Service Oriented Architecture/Service Oriented Computing
Semantic Web and Ontology
Software Engineering
System Analysis and Design
Unified Modeling Language and Unified Process
Virtual Team and Web 2.0
Web Database and Web-based Information Systems
Web Design Methods and Methodologies
Interested authors should consult the journal's manuscript submission guidelines at www.igi-global.com/jdm

All inquiries and submissions should be sent to:
Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Keng Siau at jdm@unlnotes.unl.edu