Using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to represent artefacts in the Zachman Frameword

Abstract

An interpretive research approach will be used to describe and decompose UML diagrams into their respective building blocks. A top down approach will be used to determine views that are important to enterprises during the system development lifecycle. The importance of providing graphical representations to describe conceptual ideas will be stressed. A short history will be provided of the origins of UML as well as a description of the diagrams used. Since UML is a language and not a methodology a brief discussion regarding a methodology, the Rational Unified Process, will be covered. The Zachman framework will be used to present a two-dimensional (Columns and Rows) view of an enterprise together with a summary of what could be represented in the framework. The UML building blocks will be mapped within the Zachman framework together with possible reasons for the mapping. The paper will conclude by combining several views by different authors to represent artefacts within the Zachman framework and to show the strengths and weaknesses of the current UML version 1.5 and what organisations should be aware of when considering implementing UML.