Eckhard D. Falkenberg (born 1942) is a German scientist and Professor Emeritus of Information Systems at the Radboud University Nijmegen. He is known for his contributions in the fields of information modelling, especially object-role modeling, [1] [2] and the conceptual foundations of information systems.
In the early 1960s Falkenberg studied electrical and telecommunications engineering at the Technical University of Munich, where he received his engineering degree under Gert Hauske and Hans Marko. Later in 1975 he obtained his PhD in informatics at the University of Stuttgart under the supervision of Hans-Jochen Schneider and Walter Knödel.
In 1967 Falkenberg had started his career as a development engineer at Telefunken in Konstanz, Germany. In 1971 he became research assistant at the computer science department of the University of Stuttgart, where he conducted his PhD research. In those days he published his first articles on modelling of database systems. [3] In 1976 he moved to the Siemens Research Laboratories in Munich, where he became a research manager. Here he started working on manipulation and specification languages for information systems, and on the design of architecture of information systems. [3]
In 1982 on invitation by Sjir Nijssen he moved to the University of Queensland in Australia, where he was appointed senior lecturer at its computer science department. In 1986 back in Europe Falkenberg was appointed professor of information systems at the computer science department of the Radboud University Nijmegen. [3] Among his doctoral students were Sjaak Brinkkemper (1990), Arthur ter Hofstede (1993), Erik Proper (1994) and Patrick van Bommel (1995). [4] Late 1990s Falkenberg retired and moved back to Germany
In 1976 Falkenberg joined the work of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), where he participated in the working group on databases, TC2/WG2.6, and the working group on design and evaluation of information systems, TC8/WG8.1. In 1988 that working group started the task group Framework of Information System Concepts (FRISCO), in which Falkenberg was elected chairman. This task group is particularly known for the 1998 publication of The FRISCO Report. [5] [6]
Falkenberg's early research had focussed on modelling of database systems, and moved towards concepts for modelling information, structuring information systems and information architecture.
In his 1975 PhD thesis Falkenberg came up with the concept of the structuring and representation of information at one specific interaction: the interface between the database user and the database management system. He developed this concept into an information model, which he called the Object-Role Model. [7]
In cooperation with Sjir Nijssen, Robert Meersman, Dirk Vermeir, Terry Halpin and other colleagues, these concepts were further developed. Eventually the Object-Role Model concept became a basic feature for methods and tools for information analysis and for developing information systems, such as Fact-oriented Modeling, Natural-language Information Analysis Method (NIAM), and Object-Role Modeling (ORM). [8]
In 1988 the IFIP TC8/WG8.1 working group started a task group to develop a more comprehensive framework for information system development. The motivation, aim and scope was described in a first manifesto in IFIP (1988), which stated:
The FRISCO Report (1998) eventually defined over 100 related terms, [10] especially the term model [11] [12] and put them in context.
Falkenberg has authored and co-authored numerous publications in the field. [13] Books, a selection:
Articles, a selection:
A data model is an abstract model that organizes elements of data and standardizes how they relate to one another and to the properties of real-world entities. For instance, a data model may specify that the data element representing a car be composed of a number of other elements which, in turn, represent the color and size of the car and define its owner.
Terence Aidan (Terry) Halpin is an Australian computer scientist who is known for his formalization of the Object Role Modeling notation.
Object–role modeling (ORM) is used to model the semantics of a universe of discourse. ORM is often used for data modeling and software engineering.
The International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) is a global organisation for researchers and professionals working in the field of computing to conduct research, develop standards and promote information sharing.
A conceptual model is a representation of a system. It consists of concepts used to help people know, understand, or simulate a subject the model represents. In contrast, a physical model focuses on a physical object such as a toy model that may be assembled and made to work like the object it represents.
Jean Leonardus Gerardus (Jan) Dietz is a Dutch Information systems researcher, Emeritus Professor of Information Systems Design, and part-time Professor of Enterprise Engineering at the Delft University of Technology, known for the development of the Design & Engineering Methodology for Organizations. and his work on enterprise ontology.
Gerardus Maria "Sjir" Nijssen is a Dutch computer scientist, former professor of computer science at the University of Queensland, consultant, and author. Nijssen is considered the founder of verbalization in computer science, and one of the founders of business modeling and information analysis based on natural language.
T. William (Bill) Olle was a British computer scientist and consultant and President of T. William Olle Associates, England.
John Krogstie is a Norwegian computer scientist, professor in information systems at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, and an expert in the field of enterprise modelling.
Colette Rolland is a French computer scientist and Professor of Computer Science in the department of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, and a leading researcher in the area of information and knowledge systems, known for her work on meta-modeling, particularly goal modelling and situational method engineering.
Ronald K. (Ron) Stamper is a British computer scientist, formerly a researcher in the LSE and emeritus professor at the University of Twente, known for his pioneering work in Organisational semiotics, and the creation of the MEASUR methodology and the SEDITA framework.
NORMA is a conceptual modeling tool that implements the object-role modeling (ORM) method.
Jacobus Nicolaas (Sjaak) Brinkkemper is a Dutch computer scientist, and Full Professor of organisation and information at the Department of Information and Computing Sciences of Utrecht University.
Henk Gerard Sol is a Dutch organizational theorist and Emeritus Professor of Business Engineering and ICT at Groningen University. His research focuses on the development of services enabled by ICT, management information systems, decision enhancement and telematics.
Arne Sølvberg is a Norwegian computer scientist, professor in computer science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, and an expert in the field of information modelling.
Börje Langefors was a Swedish engineer and computer scientist, Emeritus Professor of Business Information Systems at the Department of Computer and Systems Science, Stockholm University and Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, and "one of those who made systems development a science."
Adolf Alexander Verrijn Stuart was a Dutch computer scientist, and the first Professor in computer science at the Leiden University from 1969 tot 1991.
Janis Askolds Bubenko junior was a Swedish computer scientist and Professor Emeritus at the Department of Computer and Systems Science, Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University.
Henderik Alex (Erik) Proper is a Dutch computer scientist, an FNR PEARL Laureate, and a senior research manager within the Computer Science (ITIS) department of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). He is also adjunct professor in data and knowledge engineering at the University of Luxembourg. He is known for work on conceptual modeling, enterprise architecture and enterprise engineering.
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