check classification of `policy`

[stap-m]

Description of the issue

policy is defined as: A policy is a specifically dependent continuant that is a deliberate system of principles, rules and guidelines, adopted by an organisation to guide decision making with respect to particular situations and implemented to achieve stated goals.

specifically dependent continuant as direct parent does not seem the right place to me for a "deliberate system of principles, rules and guidelines". I agree that after the definition, a policy is dependent continuant and requires a bearer.

Ideas of solution

• Option A: if we find that it is kind of specifically depentdent, we should specify a subclass of specifically dependent continuant
• Option B: make it some kind of generically dependent, since a set of rules and guidelines could be adopted by different bearers

Workflow checklist

• [ ] I discussed the issue with someone else than me before working on a solution
• [ ] I already read the latest version of the workflow for this repository
• [ ] The goal of this ontology is clear to me

I am aware that

• [ ] every entry in the ontology should have a definition
• [ ] classes should arise from concepts rather than from words

[l-emele]

I would say that a policy is a realizable entity and that it is realized in implementing one or more policy instruments.

[stap-m]

I would say that a policy is a realizable entity and that it is realized in implementing one or more policy instruments.

I think I'd propose directive information entity[^1] instead, which is generically dependent and the parent of plan specification. We have policy instrument implemented as the latter, btw.

[^1]: An information content entity whose concretizations indicate to their bearer how to realize them in a process.

[l-emele]

IAO has now more subclasses of directive information entity than only plan specification:

Especially the following two are interesting here:

• action specification: A directive information entity that describes an action the bearer will take.
• objective specifiation: A directive information entity that describes an intended process endpoint. When part of a plan specification the concretization is realized in a planned process in which the bearer tries to effect the world so that the process endpoint is achieved.

Related in this context is not only policy and policy instrument but also target description. We might import action specification and objective specification and then redefine:

• policy instrument: A policy instrument is ~a plan specification~ an action specification of an organisation (e.g. a government) that promotes transformative measures.
• target description: A target description is an ~information content entity~ objective specification that contains statements about a desired future state of a system that a person or organisation commits to in a legally binding way.

If we also make policy a directive information entity, what is then the difference between policy and policy instrument?

[stap-m]

I like the proposals for policy instruments and target descriptions

If we also make policy a directive information entity, what is then the difference between policy and policy instrument?

Currently, we have policy 'has part' some 'policy instrument', which explains the relation.

Plan specification is defined as A directive information entity with action specifications and objective specifications as parts, and that may be concretized as a realizable entity that, if realized, is realized in a process in which the bearer tries to achieve the objectives by taking the actions specified. Sounds to me that policy is the plan specification that has policy instruments and target descriptions as part.

[l-emele]

Sounds reasonable. To sum this issue up:

• [x] Import from IAO:
  • action specification: A directive information entity that describes an action the bearer will take.
  • objective specifiation: A directive information entity that describes an intended process endpoint. When part of a plan specification the concretization is realized in a planned process in which the bearer tries to effect the world so that the process endpoint is achieved.
• [x] Reclassify and redefine:
  • policy instrument: A policy instrument is ~a plan specification~ an action specification of an organisation (e.g. a government) that promotes transformative measures.
  • target description: A target description is an ~information content entity~ objective specification that contains statements about a desired future state of a system that a person or organisation commits to in a legally binding way.
• [x] Add axioms:
  • ~policy 'has part' some 'policy instrument'~ That is already implemented.
  • policy 'has part' some 'target description'

[l-emele]

No objection against the conclusion in the last issue. So I consider this issue as ready for implementation.

[l-emele]

I'll implement

EDIT: Depends on the IAO imports #1754

[stap-m]

I will take over the implementation now to be able to include this in the next release