CCTS - A Novel Framework for Conceptual Data Modelling

With increasing importance of semantic interoperability in B2B contexts, the need for adequate standards becomes imperative on a process level as well as on the message or data level. Although a multitude of standards have been proposed in recent years none of them became widely accepted as they fell short of offering a satisfying solution. The UN/CEFACT e-business standards stack represents a promising framework for enabling semantic interoperability with the Core Component Technical Specification (CCTS) being an integral constituent for semantic data modelling. However, the scientific foundation of such standards remains rather faint. Therefore, this paper remediates this deficiency by contrasting the standard to two theories of information science research, namely Conceptual Modelling theory and the Design Science paradigm. After presenting both the standard with its essential characteristics and the two concepts as a theoretical framework, CCTS is mirrored against the basic theoretical requirements. From this comparison the author concludes a conformance of the CCTS approach with both scientific concepts and points out the contribution of CCTS to conceptual modelling. Nonetheless, the evaluation of CCTS as an information science artefact is not satisfactorily resolved. For this reason, a multi-perspective evaluation framework is drafted for enhancing a sound scientific foundation.Keywords: Core Component Technical Specification, Design Science, Conceptual Modelling, Evaluation.