Platform Independent Model (PIM)
Platform Independent Model (PIM) is a type of model used in software engineering to specify system requirements without being tied to any specific technology or implementation. It is a high-level representation of a software system that focuses on the functional and behavioral aspects of the system, rather than the technical details of how it is implemented.
The purpose of a PIM is to provide a technology-independent specification of the system's requirements that can be used to guide the development process. It is typically created early in the software development life cycle and is used to inform the creation of more detailed models and specifications.
The components of a PIM include the system's functional requirements, user interfaces, business logic, and other high-level aspects of the system's behavior. It is typically represented using a graphical notation such as Unified Modeling Language (UML) or Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN).
The importance of a PIM lies in its ability to help software developers and architects design systems that are flexible and adaptable to changing requirements and technologies. By focusing on the high-level requirements and behavior of the system, rather than its implementation details, a PIM allows for more agile development and easier maintenance of the system over time.
The history of PIM can be traced back to the early days of software engineering, where it was used as a way to create abstract models of software systems that could be used to guide the development process. Over time, PIM has become an important part of modern software engineering practices, and is widely used in the development of complex software systems.
The benefits of using a PIM include improved system flexibility and adaptability, easier maintenance and modification of the system over time, and better alignment with business requirements. However, there are also some potential drawbacks, including the need for additional modeling and analysis effort, and the potential for misalignment between the PIM and the final implementation of the system.
Examples of PIMs include UML diagrams, BPMN models, and other high-level system models used in software engineering.
See Also
- IT Strategy (Information Technology Strategy)
- IT Governance
- Enterprise Architecture
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- IT Sourcing (Information Technology Sourcing)
- IT Operations (Information Technology Operations)
- E-Strategy