Although this may be interesting in and of itself, the use of models represents a breakthrough in the way business information systems are developed. Instead of deploying the traditional application development life cycle, models of a business or business area are constructed. These models are shared by individual computer applications. The focus of IS shifts from applications development to the enhancement and maintenance of common business models. Business models and software models become one and the same.
Applications become derivatives, alternate views and refinements of the business models.
The modelling approach to business innovation is not possible without a software approach suited to the task. For these business reasons, object-oriented technology has become of vital interest to both commerce and industry. Business and technology must be fused if corporations are to maintain the competitive advantage. Object-oriented technology can be the foundation for that fusion. Object technology holds great promise as a means of designing and constructing the adaptive information systems needed for 21st century business.