Boundary Model

A Boundary Model defines the logical connection structure through which information and deliverables are exchanged across different processes or layers—such as knowledge modeling, process style, and execution architecture. It bridges the internal and external aspects of a development method, clarifying inputs, outputs, and dependencies.

In SimpleModeling, the Boundary Model is a key structural element surrounding the development method. It imports outputs from knowledge modeling as inputs, and exports the results of the development method to the process style and execution architecture. Through this mechanism, it establishes an integrated framework connecting the model-driven, knowledge-driven, and AI-assisted layers.

A Boundary Model is composed of multiple Boundary Objects. While a boundary object represents an individual data structure or artifact, the boundary model serves as a structural schema that organizes and contextualizes them. When defining inputs and outputs of a development method, these boundary objects form the concrete interface elements.

This concept is inspired by Star & Griesemer’s “Boundary Object” theory and reconstructed in SimpleModeling as a design structure for process interoperability. Thus, it extends beyond conventional UML or systems theory, becoming part of the meta-development structure that integrates development methods, knowledge modeling, and architecture.