BRS inc Rule Track The BRS Meta Model

BRS inc Rule Track The BRS Meta Model for Rule Management The New. Wave Re-use or transmission of any portion of this material is prohibited without written permission of Business Rule Solutions, Inc. Contact Business Rule Solutions, Inc. for licensing and re-use arrangements. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 1

BRS Rule Track BRS inc The Questions you need to answer. . . What: What is the rule? How: What are the support components? Where: What jurisdictions is the rule enforced in? Who: What parties are involved with the rule? When: What changes affect the rule? Why: What are the reasons for the rule? Reference: The BRS Approach to Rule Management: RMSolutions, by Ronald G. Ross and Gladys S. W. Lam, Business Rule Solutions, Inc. , 1999. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 2

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “What” What is the rule? rule Rule Statement Example: A group must not include any union members if it includes any non-union members, and vice versa. Rule Topic: Union Group Rules © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 3

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “What” What is the rule? rule statement specification level directive ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. business expression ME formal expression Note: Statement Specification Level refers to the textual expression of the rule in the Rule Statement. 4

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Additional Text provides text relevant to rule reference source Note: A Reference Source may provide the specific basis for a rule, or provide background, context or explanation. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. – Law – Regulation – Business Policy Document – Procedures Manual – System Documentation – Memoranda – etc. 5

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Business Context business focus rule applies to type product line service resource knowledge competency ME customer L. O. B. Note: These connections relate to business components, rather than to geographical locations or organizational units. ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 6

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Permission Statements complements rule permission statement Note: Use Permission Statements to bring out the “positive” side, where … – Behavior is permitted. – The work space is “open” for actors to act. Example: Rule: Orders on credit over $1, 000 must not be accepted without a credit check. Permission Statement: Orders on credit $1, 000 or under may be accepted without a credit check. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 7

Categorization of Business Rules BRS inc Categorization 1 Business Category rule Business Category – Core Business Rule – Productivity-Enhancing Rule – Decision-Making Rule – Regulatory Rule Note: Business Category refers to the basic role of the rule in running the business. (This category is mutually-exclusive. ) © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 8

Categorization of Business Rules BRS inc Categorization 2 Functional Category rule Functional Category – Computation – Rejector – Projector Note: The kind of a Rule based on its intrinsic operation or effect. (This category is mutually-exclusive. ) © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 9

Categorization of Business Rules BRS inc Categorization 3 Enforcement Level rule Enforcement Level – Strictly Enforced – Allow Convergence over time – Allow Violation with Authorization – Suggestion – Sleeper Note: Enforcement Level is the particular level or degree of enforcement specified for a Rule. (This category is mutually-exclusive. ) © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 10

Categorization of Business Rules BRS inc Categorization 4 System Aspect rule System Aspect – Integrity – Calculation – Access & Security – Presentation & Work Sessions – Intervals & Timing – Derivation & Reasoning Note: The System Aspect indicates the target of a rule’s action or operation within the system design. (This category is mutually-exclusive. ) © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 11

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Business Rule Structure rule is based on Note: Every connection between terms is considered a fact. type term X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive rule basis relates X, ME is instance of X fact statement type X, ME named relationship is subset of (ISA) © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. has a (HASA) is instance of (ITA) is aggregation encompassing is synonym of 12

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Grouping Rules rule is based on groups Note: Grouping is important for inspecting and challenging rules. term entity stage © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. triggers rule basis event changes state of type X, ME fact X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive 13

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Rule-to-Rule Connections rule expressive connection type uses as atomic component references X, ME is exception to establishes enforcement scope for X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive Note: Expressive rule-to-rule connections document explicit crossreferences between rules. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 14

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Rule-to-Rule Connections rule review connection type subsumed by is logically related to X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive X, ME semantically equivalent to similar to in conflict with supports interpreted from Note: Review rule-to-rule connections can record the results of inspecting and/or challenging rules. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 15

BRS Rule Track Rule-to-Rule Connections BRS inc rule replacement connection replaces Note: Replacement rule-to-rule connections provide a historical trail. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 16

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “How” How is the rule supported? Question 1. How in terms of knowledge-intensive tasks? guides performance of rule X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive task type operational task X, ME decisionmaking task creative task Note: Codified rules provide a basis for conducting knowledge-intensive tasks. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 17

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “How” Question 1. Knowledge-Intensive Tasks continued. . . X: mandatory ME: mutuallyexclusive task type operational task decisionmaking task analysis cognitive pattern type classification diagnosis Note: X, ME creative task In Analysis, the system description is given. In Synthesis, the system description must be generated. X, ME assessment monitoring prediction From Common. KADS. . . References: 1. Schreiber A Th. et al (1999) Engineering and Managing Knowledge: The Common. KADS Methodology, MIT Press 2. Gardner, Karen M. et al (1998) Cognitive Patterns: Problem-Solving Frameworks for Object Technology, Cambridge University Press © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 18

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “How” Question 1. Knowledge-Intensive Tasks continued. . . X: mandatory ME: mutuallyexclusive task Note: task type operational task X, ME decisionmaking task creative task synthesis cognitive pattern type design configuration design © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. assignment planning In Analysis, the system description is given. In Synthesis, the system description must be generated. X, ME scheduling modeling From Common. KADS. . . References: 1. Schreiber A Th. et al (1999) Engineering and Managing Knowledge: The Common. KADS Methodology, MIT Press 2. Gardner, Karen M. et al (1998) Cognitive Patterns: Problem-Solving Frameworks for Object Technology, Cambridge University Press 19

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “How” Question 2. How in the “as-is” world? rule is implemented in implementation component Guideline: A rule should be tied to the lowest level of implementation component where implemented. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. is composed of – database – stored procedure – system – program – module – screen – procedure – etc. 20

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “How” Question 3. How in the “to-be” world? is supported by rule guides performance of task is embedded in – data model – workflow model – use case – flow chart – procedure – state transition – etc. design deliverable Guideline: Design deliverables should be specified for a rule only if it will not be supported directly by a rule engine. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 21

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “Where” What jurisdictions is the rule enforced in? rule is enforced within jurisdiction type organizational unit consists of political entity ME geographical area Guideline: A rule should be related to the highest-level jurisdiction across which it is comprehensively enforced. ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 22

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “Who” What parties are involved with the rule? rule involvement is involved with party type ME – sponsor – author – steward organization person – business advisor – technical advisor – implementor Note: This tells you – enforcer who to contact – authorized source of waivers for what. – actor authorized to override – etc. ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 23

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “When” What change affects the rule? Question 1. What are the versions for the rule, if any? rule C rule version Guideline: Versions are revisions to the text of a rule, usually specifying refinements in thresholds (often numeric). A rule that replaces one or more other rules should not be treated as a version of the original rule(s). © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 24

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Question 2. What state is the rule in? rule under review stage proposed approved assigned to change effort ME implemented retired Note: This gives the life cycle for a rule or rule version. (A rule need not start at the beginning. ) ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 25

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Question 3. What change efforts affect the rule? affects rule C rule version creates change effort type business initiative ME project change request Note: A change effort “affects” a rule by creating or retiring it. ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 26

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “Why” What are the reasons for the rule? Question 1. What influences resulted in creation of the rule? rule results in creation of influence origin Note: – To what origins can a rule be traced? – This means the influences that resulted in its creation. – This is the only way to understand it fully … and to ever challenge it. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. traces to external to business X, ME internal to business X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive 27

BRS Rule Track BRS inc External Influences influence Question 1. What influences continued. . . origin external to business type law / regulation internal to business ME market place – tax – fraud – personnel – government – regulatory X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. X, ME environment – competition – customer – vendor (supplier) – investor – nature – social/culture – economy – technology – experience From Business Rule Group, 1998 (formerly GUIDE Business Rule Project) 28

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Internal Influences Question 1. What influences continued. . . influence origin X, ME external to business internal to business type existing infrastructure issue (irritant) assumption ME value X: mandatory ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 29

BRS Rule Track Internal Influences BRS inc Examples Existing Infrastructure: “Screen XYZ in payroll will blow up unless we do it this way. ” Issues (Irritants): “We don’t always know who our customers are. ” Assumptions: “Customers don’t always know their needs or understand our products. ” Values: “We prefer to hire veterans. ” © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 30

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Answering “Why” Question 2. What purposes does the rule serve? rule provides motivation for results in creation of influence Note: This tells you what the rule does for the business. underlies shapes purpose type objective ME tactic risk ME: mutually-exclusive © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 31

BRS Rule Track BRS inc Purposes Objective: An effect (i. e. business result) the business wants to accomplish in performing the mission. Example: To keep customers satisfied. Tactic: Any course of action that provides a means to support the mission, to achieve objectives, or to address risks. Example: Pizzas should be delivered in an expedient amount of time. Risk: An exposure that may prevent achievement of any effect(s) the business seeks. Policy Charter Example: Traffic congestion. © Business Rule Solutions, Inc. 32