Toward a Social Ontology for Conceptual Modeling

Conceptual modeling is fundamental to information systems requirements engineering. Systems analysts and designers use the constructs and methods of a conceptual modeling formalism to represent, communicate and validate the contents, capabilities and constraints of an envisioned information system within its organizational context. The value of such a representation is measured by the degree to which it facilitates a shared understanding among all stakeholders of (1) the organizational information requirements and (2) the ability of the envisioned information system to meet them (Wand and Weber 2002). We propose using the social ontology developed by John Searle (1995, 2006, 2010) as the basis for conceptual modeling and present a meta model based on that ontology.