ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW Structural means-ends and part-whole relations are the principal hierarchical links underlying the abstraction-decomposition space. Sometimes, topological relations, which are introduced in this chapter, are also portrayed in a work domain model. Understanding these relationships sufficiently well to differentiate them from other types of links that should be excluded from this kind of representation can be challenging. Yet, this is essential for composing a sound model. After explaining the distinctions between different types of associations, including those that do and do not belong in a work domain model, this chapter describes structural means-ends, part-whole, and topological relations in more depth.