Models Beyond Diagrams

In software development, models are everywhere. We use them to reason about problems, design solutions, and structure systems. Yet what we mean by a “model” is often left implicit — reduced to diagrams, data structures, or implementation details — even though models strongly influence how problems are understood, how complexity is reduced, and how intent is translated into software.

This session explores the role of models in software development from a conceptual perspective. We will look at what models are, what they are meant to do, and how they can support clearer reasoning and collaboration across business and technical boundaries. Along the way, we will discuss different ways models can be expressed, how they relate to code, and why multiple models are often needed to address different problems within the same domain.

This talk is intended for anyone involved in building or shaping software systems and anyone who wants to better understand how models influence thinking, communication and collaboration.