A Method for Modelling Application Integration

Abstract

Enterprises can make their business processes more efficient by integrating software applications within the enterprise as well as over organizational borders. Application integration is, however, associated with numerous challenges. A number of competing application integration architectures and technologies make choosing the right approach difficult. This often results in application integration environments where several techniques are in use simultaneously. In addition, application integration project often involve several implementing stakeholders, something that makes communication vital for the success of the project.

Modelling the application integration design might be a way to overcome some of the problems associated with application integration. This thesis explores a set of existing modelling languages in an effort to find a modelling method suitable for modelling most approaches to application integration. To get real-life requirements for the modelling method, six domain experts were interviewed. Thereafter the Unified Modelling Language 2.0 (UML 2), the Integrated Definition (IDEF), the UML for Enterprise Application Integration extension, the Business Modelling Language, the Zachman framework and Gregor Hohpe's integration pattern symbols were reviewed to see if a suitable modelling method exists.

It turned out that none of the explored modelling methods directly met the requirements. The research therefore continues by proposing a method in which UML 2 elements and diagrams can be used to represent application integration architecture and design. The presented modelling method is tested in a fictive example case and later evaluated against the set requirements. It turns out that application integration, both within an enterprise and between enterprises, can be modelled with the proposed modelling method.