Bases for the development of LAST: A formal method for business software requirements specification

  1. Almendros-Jiménez, J.M. 1
  2. González-Jiménez, L. 2
  1. 1 Universidad de Almería
    info

    Universidad de Almería

    Almería, España

    ROR https://ror.org/003d3xx08

  2. 2 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

Revista:
Information and Software Technology

ISSN: 0950-5849

Año de publicación: 2002

Volumen: 44

Número: 2

Páginas: 65-75

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1016/S0950-5849(01)00209-9 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-0037083337 WoS: WOS:000174576000002 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Information and Software Technology

Resumen

This paper proposes a possible approach to IS requirements specification. It relies on the application of standard (i.e. conventional) discrete mathematics, more precisely, it uses a fairly limited number of concepts from the fields of linear algebra and set theory (hence its name, LAST). The use of LAST for data definition and query-answer are discussed in some detail, given the data-rich quality of Business IS and the fact that a solid data-model is therefore essential to their specification. The proposed approach implies integration with other semiformal specification methods, two of the possibilities being integration with UML-OCL and with the Entity Relationship Model, which are discussed in this paper. Finally, mapping of LAST specifications to the Relational Model is also addressed; this possibility having an interest both, for (partial) implementation and for model simulation. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.