STRAWMAN REFERENCE MODEL FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT OF OBJECTS

This article provides a strawman 1 reference model which can be used for comparing and reasoning about change management systems. It begins with a glossary of change management terms, providing common ground for people to communicate about change management. A descriptive reference model consisting of a collection of characteristics that can be used, again by people, for comparing existing and future change management systems is then described. Finally, based on the descriptive reference model, we define a functional reference model. The functional reference model provides a much more precise description of how machines can realize generic change management operations. While the glossary and descriptive reference model are steps on the path to forming standards, the more precise model is closer to what is needed to provide interoperability (standards) for machines. We hope that the step-wise refinement exposition used in this paper, from terms through a descriptive reference model to an operational reference model, will provide a good roadmap for OODBTG or similar groups to reach consensus leading to standards in the area of change management.