IDM Methodology

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The intent of the Methodology is to present the reasons for development of the Information Delivery Manual (IDM), describe its components, define a methodology to be used in their development and provide useful information about how to create and use its various parts. It provides a complete reference that steps through the ideas and parts of the IDM. It describes or provides:

• reasoning behind why the IDM was developed.
• component structure of the IDM and explains the way in which this structure meets the information exchange needs of users and solution providers.
• objectives of the IDM in terms of its vision, mission, goals and describes the groups of people at which it is targeted.
• relationship between the IDM components and the certifiable 'Model View Definitions'
• planning for international coordination of IDM work
• technical architecture that connects the IDM components together in a coherent structure to support the information exchange needs of both users and solution providers.
• each of the component types individually, identifying their purpose and content, how they should be created and how used.
• guidance on development processes for IDM including the three primary development routes currently understood for IDM.
  • process modelling and data discovery,
  • reverse engineering data requirements from software dialogues
  • extension of exchange requirements through specification of additional business rules.
• how to define and localize actor specifications.
• project stages adopted for IDM and how they may be varied to reflect local usage and local naming.
• naming rules used for various parts of IDM.
• particular methods applied by IDM development to the standard BPMN process modelling notation.
• specific guidance on approaches used in the publication of IDM using the Confluence 'Wiki' programme.
• basic theory that underpins IDM development and particularly how it applies to exchange requirements and functional parts.
• information on generating and managing issues on IDM components using the JIRA issues management software applied generally within IFC development.

The complete methodology will be provided on the IDM buildingSMART site in due course. For the present, access is provided to the key documents:

• The complete IDM Methodology document including all appendices
• Quick Guide to the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) used by IDM

• Building Blocks (BB)
• IDM in Real Life Projects
• IDM Makes IFC Work