[comp.software-eng] Book on general theory of models and the modelling process

sjbr@ut-emx.uucp (Sjaak Brinkkemper) (06/14/91)

I am looking for a book that covers the general theory of models and the 
modelling process. I am interested in definitions of the notion of model,
the relation between the model and the system it is supposed to model,
the uniqueness of a model, formalisation of models, etc.

I actually found a book in Netherlands : Inleiding tot het modelbegrip 
(Introduction to the notion of model), De Haan, Bussum, 1969.
This books gives an overview of the use of models in all branches of
science: physics, mathematics, sociology, engineering; and proposes
a unified view. It is pretty comprehensive, but unfortunately not
translated in English.

I need this for my work on models of information systems, that are used
for generating software. Browsing through our library catalogue with the
keyword 'model' gives me thousands of entries, that I cannot use.

Please reply through e-mail. In case of interesting follow-up I will 
post a summary.

Thanks, Sjaak Brinkkemper
-- 
Sjaak Brinkkemper                Organizational Computing Lab
MSIS, CBA 5.202                  University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
sjbr@emx.utexas.edu              tel.: +1.512.471.8879 / +1.512.892.1423