A model development system provides tools for developers to define reusable, object oriented components and views for collecting and displaying data from multiple sources, and for incorporating such reusable components and views into an informational model. Using the system, a developer can create a reusable component, create multiple instances of that component, and connect each such instance to one or more corresponding back-end data sources. The developer can also define one or more associated views that specify how data collected by the component from the back-end data sources is to be displayed. Many different components and views may be defined and deployed to build an informational model of a business entity, such as a business that operates processing or manufacturing plants in various locations.