Abstraction in methodology: A framework for computer support

摘要

Computer-based methodologies for systems modelling, design, and analysis require the user to understand and manipulate abstractions of the objects of direct interest. The success of such methodologies may hang on human ability to deal with such abstractions and the degree to which the computer assistance meshes with this ability. This paper formulates systems methodologies within a problem solving frame-work in which abstractions, and the role they play, are formally represented. Two kinds of abstraction-based methodologies are distinguished: information-based methodologies employ abstractions to provide projections of the current state of the problem solving process, subsearch methodologies augment the underlying solution space with abstract representations that are intended to facilitate better perception of goal directions and improved quality of solutions. In this framework, implementation of abstraction classes is shown to involve overhead costs to both software and “brainware” that may vitiate the intended benefits. Components of, and approaches to, such a cost/benefit analysis are presented.