Complementary roles of IDEF0 and DSM for the modeling of information management processes

The paper compares the IDEF0 [1] (sometimes referred to as SADT) and DSM (Design Structure Matrix) [2,3] modeling techniques. They both serve the purpose of modeling information flows. The aim of the paper is to identify positive and negative aspects of the different modeling techniques, thereby suggesting what kind of problems the different techniques are best suited for and how the techniques complement each other. As an example, both techniques are used to model the configuration management process at FFV Aerotech. It is argued that IDEF0 focuses on the formal communication of specified information. DSM, on the other hand, focuses on informal communication. The techniques support each other. Depending on the objectives with the modeling work, both techniques can be used. Useful insights can be reached with little additional work by using both techniques. It would be favorable if both techniques could be used in the same instrument, i.e., computer tool. Thereby, the same data could be used for analysis in the two techniques.