Unified Modelling Language Diagrams for Insurance Management
SInsurance is a complex field that often requires the development of unique software applications and modelling solutions. Unified Modelling Language (UML) is one of the tools used by the insurance industry in the design of software, to map out specific data relationships through the use of specific graphic notation techniques and visual modelling. UML is a standard, general purpose language used in all fields of software engineering, and was initially created and developed by the Object Management Group. There are a number of different types of models and diagrams that can be produced by UML applications, many of which are highly useful within the development of insurance management software.
There are a number of both professional and shareware programs that use UML in the development of finance and insurance applications. These tools are generally used to specify, modify, construct, and document an object-oriented piece of software while it is under development. Some of the professional titles that are used to create insurance management software include Altova UModel, Blu Age 2009 Edition, Enterprise Architect, Win A&D, and MagicDraw. However, there are a number of open source and shareware applications that also utilise UML diagrams and solutions, including PowerDesigner, EDGE Diagrammer 5.0, FlowChart.NET 5.3.1, Red Koda Community, and Chartpack; all of which can be used in the construction and refinement of software used in the insurance industry.
UML is not a development method by itself, but instead a modelling tool that is compatible with a number of object-oriented software development methodologies. UML models can be distinguished from UML diagrams, which are partial representations of particular models within any given system. There are a number of UML diagrams that are used in the development of insurance management applications, including structure diagrams, behaviour diagrams, and interaction diagrams. All of these UML diagrams are used during different parts of the insurance management software development cycle, with some also used in the process of insurance product assessment and service management.
Structure diagrams are used to emphasize individual things within any system, and are integral to the structural representation of a system's architectural principles. Some types of structural diagrams used within insurance management include class diagrams, component diagrams, object diagrams, and deployment diagrams. In contrast, behaviour diagrams are used to emphasize events within a system, and include activity diagrams, state machine diagrams, and use case diagrams. The third group of diagrams used within the development of insurance management software are interaction diagrams, including sequence diagrams, timing diagrams, and communication diagrams.
