Two suggestions for core components

[Bob Haugen <linkage@interaccess.com>]

Hi y'all,

I am new to this list and group, so forgive me if I am
rehashing old ground.  (I did read the archives of
all the groups, though.)

I have two suggestions, one core component and
one reference source.

1. There is a core component hidden in the various
EDI documents that specify demands and supplies:
for example, all the various documents that specify
a purchase in different standards, industries and
circumstances.  I'm not talking about the Purchase
Order, but something smaller:  an atomic specification
of what is being demanded or supplied, e.g.
    Resource
    Quality specs
    Quantity
    Timing
    Source
    Destination
    Type
    etc.
It's more like a Line Item, but doesn't necessarily
need to be connected to an Order (lots of companies
have moved to a more efficient electronic flow than
the wired version of paper order and invoice documents).
In REA terms (see below) it's called a StockFlow.
I wrote about it in a paper entitled "Which Business Objects"
at http://jeffsutherland.org/oopsla98/haugen.html 

2. Reference source:  the REA model.
REA stands for Resources, Events and Agents.  It has 
been developed over a 20-year span by Professor William
McCarthy and colleagues of Michigan State University.

REA is a minimal model:  intended to be the smallest
number of moving parts that can model networks of
economic events.  It should be a good source for
reusable core components.

Here are some relevant links:
A collection of REA papers
http://www.msu.edu/user/mccarth4/
Toward a Standard Internet Supply Chain System (short)
http://www.supplychainlinks.com/REA4SCMShort.htm
A Semantic Web for Internet Supply Chain Collaboration (longer)
http://www.supplychainlinks.com/Rea4scm.htm

Professor McCarthy and colleagues are currently
working on an official REA Ontology, first in 
UML form, later in XML and maybe KQML.

The Ontology paper is still a work-in-process,
but interested people can get a copy via email:
mailto:mccarth4@msu.edu

Thanks for your attention,
Bob Haugen
http://www.supplychainlinks.com/