Rule Track

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Rule Track The BRS Meta Model for Rule Management
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BRS Rule Track
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.
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BRS Rule Track
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
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BRS Rule Track
Answering What What is the rule?
rule
statement specification level ME
businessexpression
formalexpression
directive
Note Statement Specification Level refers to the
textual expression of the rule in the Rule
Statement.
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Additional Text
Law Regulation Business Policy Document
Procedures Manual System Documentation
Memoranda etc.
Note A Reference Source may provide the specific
basis for a rule, or provide background, context
or explanation.
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BRS Rule Track
Business Context
type ME
knowledge competency
Note These connections relate to business
components, rather than to geographical locations
or organizational units.
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Permission Statements
complements

• 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.

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Categorization of Business Rules
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.)
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Categorization of Business Rules
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.)
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Categorization of Business Rules
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.)
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Categorization of Business Rules
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
rules action or operation within the system
design. (This category is mutually-exclusive.)
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BRS Rule Track
Business Rule Structure
is based on
Note Every connection between terms is
considered a fact.
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
type X, ME
relates
X
term
fact
fact statement type X, ME
is aggregation encompassing
has a (HASA)
is synonym of
is instance of (ITA)
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BRS Rule Track
Grouping Rules
is based on
triggers
Note Grouping is important for inspecting and
challenging rules.
groups
event
changes state of
type X, ME
term
fact
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Rule-to-Rule Connections
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
Note Expressive rule-to-rule connections
document explicit cross-references between rules.
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BRS Rule Track
Rule-to-Rule Connections
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
connection type X, ME
subsumedby
semantically equivalent to
similar to
in conflict with
interpreted from
supports
Note Review rule-to-rule connections can record
the results of inspecting and/or challenging
rules.
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BRS Rule Track
Rule-to-Rule Connections
Note Replacement rule-to-rule connections
provide a historical trail.
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BRS Rule Track
Answering How How is the rule supported?
Question 1. How in terms of knowledge-intensive
tasks?
guides performance of
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
task type X, ME
operational task
creative task
decision-making task
Note Codified rules provide a basis for
conducting knowledge-intensive tasks.
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BRS Rule Track
Answering How
Question 1. Knowledge-Intensive Tasks continued
...
X mandatoryME mutually- exclusive
Note In Analysis, the system description is
given. In Synthesis, the system description must
be generated.
task type X, ME
operational task
creative task
decision-making task
analysis cognitive pattern type X, ME
prediction
classification
diagnosis
assessment
monitoring
From CommonKADS ...References 1. Schreiber A Th.
et al (1999) Engineering and Managing Knowledge
The CommonKADS Methodology, MIT Press 2. Gardner,
Karen M. et al (1998) Cognitive Patterns
Problem-Solving Frameworks for Object Technology,
Cambridge University Press
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BRS Rule Track
Answering How
Question 1. Knowledge-Intensive Tasks continued
...
X mandatoryME mutually- exclusive
Note In Analysis, the system description is
given. In Synthesis, the system description must
be generated.
task type X, ME
operational task
creative task
decision-making task
synthesis cognitive pattern type X, ME
scheduling
modeling
design
assignment
planning
From CommonKADS ...References 1. Schreiber A Th.
et al (1999) Engineering and Managing Knowledge
The CommonKADS Methodology, MIT Press 2. Gardner,
Karen M. et al (1998) Cognitive Patterns
Problem-Solving Frameworks for Object Technology,
Cambridge University Press
configuration design
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BRS Rule Track
Answering How
Question 2. How in the as-is world?
database stored procedure system
program module screen procedure etc.
Guideline A rule should be tied to the lowest
level of implementation component where
implemented.
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BRS Rule Track
Answering How
data model workflow model use case flow
chart procedure state transition etc.
Question 3. How in the to-be world?
is supported by
guides performance of
is embedded in
design deliverable
task
Guideline Design deliverables should be
specified for a rule only if it will not be
supported directly by a rule engine.
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BRS Rule Track
Answering Where What jurisdictions is the rule
enforced in?
type ME
organizational unit
political entity
Guideline A rule should be related to the
highest-level jurisdiction across which it is
comprehensively enforced.
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Answering Who What parties are involved with
the rule?
type ME
sponsor author steward business advisor
technical advisor implementor enforcer
authorized source of waivers actor authorized
to override etc.
organization
person
Note This tells you who to contact for what.
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Answering When What change affects the rule?
Question 1. What are the versions for the rule,
if any?
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).
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BRS Rule Track
Question 2. What state is the rule in?
stage ME
Note This gives the life cycle for a rule or
rule version. (A rule need not start at the
beginning.)
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Question 3. What change efforts affect the rule?
type ME
changerequest
businessinitiative
project
Note A change effort affects a rule by
creating or retiring it.
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Answering Why What are the reasons for the rule?
Question 1. What influences resulted in
creation of the rule?
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.
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
External Influences
Question 1. What influences continued ...
origin X, ME
type ME
law / regulation
market place
environment
nature social/culture economy
technology experience
competition customer vendor (supplier)
investor
tax fraud personnel government
regulatory
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
From Business Rule Group, 1998 (formerly GUIDE
Business Rule Project)
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BRS Rule Track
Internal Influences
Question 1. What influences continued ...
X mandatoryME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
Internal Influences
Examples
Existing Infrastructure Screen XYZ in payroll
will blow up unless we do it this way. Issues
(Irritants) We dont always know who our
customers are. Assumptions Customers dont
always know their needs or understand our
products. Values We prefer to hire veterans.
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BRS Rule Track
Answering Why
Question 2. What purposes does the rule serve?
provides motivation for
underlies
results in creation of
shapes
purpose
influence
type ME
Note This tells you what the rule does for the
business.
risk
objective
tactic
ME mutually-exclusive
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BRS Rule Track
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.Example Traffic congestion.
Policy Charter
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BRS Rule Track
Get your company on the right track for business
rules!