Conceptual models capture knowledge about domains of reality. Therefore, conceptual models and their modelling constructs should be based on theories about the world—that is, they should be grounded in ontology. Identity is fundamental to ontology and conceptual modelling because it addresses the very existence of objects and conceptual systems in general. Classification involves grouping objects that share similarities and delineating them from objects that fall under other concepts (qualitative identity). However, among objects that fall under the same concept, we must also distinguish between individual objects (individual identity). In this paper, we analyze the ontological question of identity, focusing specifically on institutional identity, which is the identity of socially constructed institutional objects. An institutional entity is a language construct that is ‘spoken into existence’. We elaborate on how institutional identity changes how we understand conceptual modelling and the models produced. We show that different models result if we base modelling on a property-based conception of identity compared to an institutional one. We use the Bunge-Wand-Weber principles, which embrace a property-based view of identity, as an anchor to the existing literature to point out how this type of ontology sidesteps identity in general and institutional identity in particular. We contribute theoretically by providing the first in-depth ontological analysis of what the notion of institutional identity can bring to conceptual modelling. We also contribute a solid ontological grounding of identity management and the identity of things in digital infrastructures.

中文翻译：

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说出事物的存在：身份表示和管理的本体论基础

概念模型捕获有关现实领域的知识。因此，概念模型及其建模构造应该基于关于世界的理论——也就是说，它们应该以本体论为基础。身份是本体论和概念建模的基础，因为它通常解决对象和概念系统的存在。分类涉及对具有相似性的对象进行分组，并将它们与属于其他概念（定性身份）的对象进行描述。但是，在属于同一概念的对象中，我们还必须区分各个对象（个体身份）。在本文中，我们分析了身份的本体论问题，特别关注制度身份，即社会建构的制度对象的身份。一个机构实体是一种语言结构，它是“说出来的”。我们详细阐述了机构身份如何改变我们对概念建模和产生的模型的理解。我们表明，如果我们基于基于财产的身份概念而不是制度概念进行建模，则会产生不同的模型。我们使用包含基于属性的身份观的 Bunge-Wand-Weber 原则作为现有文献的锚，以指出这种类型的本体论如何回避一般的身份，特别是机构身份。我们通过提供第一个深入的本体论分析来解释机构身份的概念可以给概念建模带来什么，从而在理论上做出贡献。我们还为身份管理和数字基础设施中事物的身份提供了坚实的本体论基础。