SEQUAL as a Framework for Understanding and Assessing Quality of Models and Modeling Languages

Background

Since the early 90ties, many researchers have worked on quality of models. Work in our group on this topic can be traced back to at least 1993 (Lindland, 1993). Sindre and Lindland in particular collaborated on the next step, which ended up in a widely cited article (Lindland, Sindre & Sølvberg, 1994). Although a very elegant framework which was easily applicable for understanding important aspects of quality of models, several other works pointed to the need for extending the framework. Important inspirations in this regard was the work on 3 dimensions of requirements engineering (Pohl, 1993) work related to the semiotic ladder presented in early versions of the IFIP 8.1 FRISCO framework (Lindgren, 1990) and work on social construction of 'reality' and models thereof of the domain, which is typically not as ideal and objectively given in practice that as the original framework worked with (Berger & Luckmann, 1966). Specifically the framework of Pohl also pointed to the need for agreement between the stakeholders of the model.