Intentional modeling with institution theory

Institution theory is a categorical approach to abstract model theory free of commitment to any particular logical system. As regards to modeling, the concept of institution contributed to a better understanding of various modeling concepts such as heterogeneous specification and multi-modeling, and permitted the elaboration of satisfactory answers to questions in relation with the semantic correctness of model transformation. Intentional modeling is an approach to software system's specification that puts focus on intentions and motivations of software systems, rather than on their essence or behaviors. One might here rightly think that requirements engineering is there to take care of this type of concern. However, to quote the authors of the institution theory, “experience in software engineering shows that there are major difficulties in producing consistent, rigorous specifications that adequately reflect users' requirements for complex systems”. In this contribution we project to use the concept of institution to represent models together with their intentions, and to relate models having different intentions in a semantically consistent way. The underlying motivation is to contribute to a better understanding of the concepts of modeling and model transformations.