brs business rules: getting to the point of knowledge · brs about ronald g. ross mr. ross is...

1© 2008. Business Rule Solutions, LLC.

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Business Rules: Getting to the Point of KnowledgeSoftware Engineering der Schweizer Informatik Gesellschaft Software Engineering der Schweizer Informatik Gesellschaft

Ronald G. RossRonald G. RossPrincipal Business Rule Solutions, LLCwww.BRSolutions.com

Executive Editor Business Rules Journalwww.BRCommunity.com

Reference

Business Rule ConceptsBusiness Rule Concepts(Second Edition), Ronald G. Ross, 2005, www.BRSolutions.com

““ The business rule approach The business rule approach ……getting to the real point of getting to the real point of

knowledgeknowledge””


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About Ronald G. Ross

Mr. Ross is recognized internationally as the “father of business rules.” He has served as Co-Chair of the annual Business Rules Forum Conferencesince 1997. He was a charter member of the Business Rules Group (BRG) in the 1980s, and an editor of the two landmark BRG papers, “The Business Motivation Model: Business Governance in a Volatile World” (2000, revised 2005, 2007) and the “Business Rules Manifesto” (2003). He is also active in OMG standards development for business rules and business models, including SBVR.

Mr. Ross is the author of eight professional books. His newest are: Business Rule Concepts (2005), a second edition of his popular, easy-to-read 1998 handbook, and Principles of the Business Rule Approach, Addison-Wesley (2003), featuring the business rationale and opportunity for business rules. An earlier work, The Business Rule Book(1994, 1997), was the seminal work in the field.

Mr. Ross received his M.S. in information science from Illinois Institute of Technology, and his B.A. from Rice U.

Ronald G. Ross is Co-Founder and Principal of Business Rule Solutions, LLC (www.BRSolutions.com). BRS provides workshops, consulting services, publications, and methodology supporting business analysis, business rules, business vocabulary, and rule management. His popular public seminars on business rules and business analysis, the first on business rules (starting in 1996) and the longest-running in the industry, are given through AttainingEdge (www.AttainingEdge.com).

Mr. Ross co-develops ProteusR, BRS’s landmark business analysis and business rules methodology, featuring numerous innovative techniques including the popular RuleSpeakR (free through www.BRCommunity.com). These are the latest offerings in a 30-year career that has consistently featured creative, business-driven solutions.

Mr. Ross also serves as Executive Editor of BRCommunity.comand its flagship on-line publication, Business Rules Journal. He is a regular columnist for the Journal’s Commentarysection which also features John Zachman, Chris Date, Terry Halpin, and Roger Burlton. BRCommunity.com, hosted and sponsored by BRS, is a vertical community for professionals working with business rules and related areas. Mr. Ross was formerly Editor of the Data Base Newsletterfrom 1977 to 1998.


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Getting to the Point of Knowledge: Preview

In this presentation ...In this presentation ...

1.1. RealReal--time knowledge delivery time knowledge delivery

2.2. Why the business rules Why the business rules

approach really is differentapproach really is different

3.3. The latest breakthroughs about The latest breakthroughs about

business rules you should knowbusiness rules you should know


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The Point of Knowledge: Real-Time Knowledge Delivery

ShoppingShopping


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Effective engineering at the Effective engineering at the

Point of Sale (POS)Point of Sale (POS)

Benefits to the Consumer Benefits to the Consumer ……

�� A positive buying experienceA positive buying experience

Benefits to the Supplier Benefits to the Supplier ……

�� RealReal--time intelligence about time intelligence about ……

�� Sales volumeSales volume

�� Cash flowCash flow

�� Buying trendsBuying trends

�� Inventory depletionInventory depletion

�� Customer profilesCustomer profiles

�� etc. etc.


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The Point of Knowledge (POK)The Point of Knowledge (POK)

““I need a business I need a business

liability policy.liability policy.””

Can I really Can I really

handle this?!handle this?!


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Point of Sale (POS): PlayersPoint of Sale (POS): Players

Consumer Consumer ……Supplier Supplier ……


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Point of Knowledge (POK): PlayersPoint of Knowledge (POK): Players

Consumer Consumer ……FrontFront--line line Knowledge Knowledge WorkersWorkers

Supplier Supplier ……Creators and Creators and Managers of Managers of ProductProduct--ServicesServices

“I need a business liability policy.”


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Point of Knowledge (POK)Point of Knowledge (POK)

Benefits to the Consumer Benefits to the Consumer ……

�� Job satisfaction.Job satisfaction.

�� Sense of Sense of effectiveness.effectiveness.

Benefits to the Supplier Benefits to the Supplier ……

�� Worker productivity.Worker productivity.

�� EndEnd--customer satisfaction.customer satisfaction.

�� Effective delivery of Effective delivery of product/services.product/services.

�� A manageable environment.A manageable environment.

�� Improved governance.Improved governance.

�� RealReal--time intelligence about ...time intelligence about ...

�� The The ‘‘ hithit’’ rate of rules.rate of rules.

�� Patterns of evolving customer Patterns of evolving customer (and supplier) behavior.(and supplier) behavior.

�� Emergence of compliance Emergence of compliance risks.risks.

�� etc.etc.

“Can do!”


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Point of Knowledge (POK)Point of Knowledge (POK)

Critical Success Factors for Delivery Critical Success Factors for Delivery of Knowledge and Guidance of Knowledge and Guidance

� Always in the language of the business, not IT.

� Always gauged to the knowledge level (and authorization) of the specific worker(s).

� Less-experienced workers enabled to perform at the level of more experienced workers.

� Succinct, highly-selective.

� ‘Just-in-time’.

� Never-ending, on-the-job training.

Reference: Chapters 3, 6



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What ‘error’ message should be reported back to the user?

What What ‘‘ errorerror’’ message message should be reported should be reported back to the user? back to the user?

Point of Knowledge Architecture (POKA)

Processes, events and rules ...Processes, events and rules ...

Createan instance of order

Event

Reporterror

message

Violation

Process

User

Placean order

Business Event

Rule

Rule #116A customer

that has placed an order must

have an assigned agent.

Invocation

FireRule #116

Note:This architecture was originally presented in 1994.

Reference: Chapter 6



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Knowledge Event

Invokerule

violation activity

Violation

Process Process

Placean order

Business Event

Assignan agent

Business EventInvocation

FireRule #116

Normal Business

Rule Violation Activity (RVA)

Rule

Rule #116A customer that has placed an order must have an assigned

agent.

7.1. Rules define the boundary between normal and abnormal business activity.

7.1. Rules define the boundary 7.1. Rules define the boundary between normal and abnormal between normal and abnormal business activity.business activity.



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Business Rules

Manifesto

The Principles ofRule Independence

by Business Rules Groupwww.BusinessRulesGroup.org

Version 2.0, 2003

Translations in: Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Lithuanian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish

More to Come!

Article 7. Article 7. RuleRule--Guided Processes, Guided Processes, Not ExceptionNot Exception--Based Based

Programming Programming

7.1. Rules define the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable business activity.

7.2. Rules often require special or selective handling of detected violations. Such rule violation activity is activity like any other activity.

7.3. To ensure maximum consistency and reusability, the handling of unacceptable business activity should be separable from the handling of acceptable business activity.


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Rule


agent.


Knowledge Event

Invokerule

violation activity

Violation

Process Process

Placean order

Business Event

Assignan agent

Business EventInvocation

FireRule #116

Normal Business


These business processes may be replaced independently



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Pre-existing business process invoked here



Knowledge Event

Invokerule

violation activity

Violation

Process Process

Placean order

Business Event

Assignan agent

Business EventRule


agent.

Invocation

FireRule #116

Normal Business




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The Point of Knowledge: Business Rules

Business Rules

Manifesto


2.2. Rules are not process and not procedure. They should not be contained in either of these.

3.1. Rules build on facts, and facts build on concepts as expressed by terms.

WhatWhat’’s different s different

about the business about the business

Rules approach?Rules approach?

1.1. Rule Rule IndependenceIndependence

2.2. The Business The Business Rules Rules ‘‘ MantraMantra’’

3.3. ????


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The SBVR Categorization of Business Guidance

Participants:Adaptive

Automated Reasoning Corp

Business Rule Solutions, LLC

Business Rules Group

Business Semantics Ltd

Fujitsu Ltd

Hendryx & Associates

Hewlett-Packard Company

InConcept

LibRT

KnowGravity Inc

MEGA

Model Systems

Neumont University

Perpetual Data Systems

PNA Group

Sandia National Laboratories

The Rule Markup Initiative

Unisys Corporation

X-Change Technologies Group

�� Semantic CommunitiesSemantic Communities

�� Vocabulary AdoptionVocabulary Adoption

�� Meaning Separate from ExpressionMeaning Separate from Expression

�� Support for ISO 1087Support for ISO 1087--1 and 7041 and 704--20002000

�� MultiMulti--Language Language

�� Abstract Logical Formulation of Business RulesAbstract Logical Formulation of Business Rules

�� Semantic CommunicationSemantic Communication

�� Categorization of Business GuidanceCategorization of Business Guidance

Sampler of Fundamental PrinciplesSampler of Fundamental Principles

Available at http://www.omg.org

Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SBVR)Business Rules (SBVR)

For background on the SBVR and the consortium that produced it, refer to: “A Brief History of the Business Rule Approach,”Business Rules Journal. Available athttp://www.BRCommunity.com

MilestonesMilestones……

�� September 2005September 2005…… the Object Management Group (OMG) approved SBVR the Object Management Group (OMG) approved SBVR to become a final adopted specification.to become a final adopted specification.

�� December 11, 2007December 11, 2007…… the OMG authorized official release of Version 1.0.the OMG authorized official release of Version 1.0.


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What is a Business Rule? What is a Business Rule?

“…“… a a rulerule that is under business jurisdictionthat is under business jurisdiction””

So what is a So what is a rulerule (real world perspective)?(real world perspective)?

�� A rule A rule alwaysalwaysremoves some degree of freedom. removes some degree of freedom.

�� In general, rules are about decisions.In general, rules are about decisions.

Is this a gold Is this a gold customer or customer or not?not?

Let this customer Let this customer in or not?in or not?


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Business Rule Business Rule ……

Two major categories from the Two major categories from the businessbusiness view view ……

Operative RulesOperative Rules

“…“… a guide for conduct or action.a guide for conduct or action.””

ExampleExample

A gold customer must be allowed A gold customer must be allowed access to the warehouseaccess to the warehouse. .

Is this a gold Is this a gold customer or customer or not? not? …… Yes!Yes!

Structural RulesStructural Rules

“…“… criteria for shaping concepts.criteria for shaping concepts.””

ExampleExample

A customer is always considered a A customer is always considered a gold customer if the customer places gold customer if the customer places more than 12 orders during a more than 12 orders during a calendar year.calendar year. Let this customer Let this customer

in or not? in or not? …… Yes!Yes!


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“…“… guides for conduct or action.guides for conduct or action.””

ExampleExample

A gold customer must be allowed A gold customer must be allowed access to the warehouseaccess to the warehouse..

This rule can This rule can be be violatedviolated!!

a.k.a. a.k.a. ““ Behavioral RulesBehavioral Rules””



ExampleExample

A customer is always considered a A customer is always considered a gold customer if the customer places gold customer if the customer places more than 12 orders during a more than 12 orders during a calendar year.calendar year.

This rule might be ill-conceived, misunderstood, or misapplied …… but it cannotcannotbe directly violated.

a.k.a. a.k.a. ““ Definitional RulesDefinitional Rules””


Which kind can be Which kind can be ‘‘brokenbroken’’??


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Always Always PracticablePracticable

‘‘ PracticablePracticable’’ means means ……

� Given a rule and a business situation where the rule applies …

� A person (worker) who …

a) knows about the rule

b) understands the associated vocabulary (important!)

� … could decide directly whether or not the business was in compliance.… including his or her own behavior(!)

Note: Sometimes called “actionable”.


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Business Policy vs. Business Rule Business Policy vs. Business Rule

Is it Is it PracticablePracticable?!?!

ExampleExample

Business PolicyBusiness Policy

Safety is our first concern. Safety is our first concern.

Business RuleBusiness Rule

A hard hat must be A hard hat must be worn in a construction worn in a construction site.site.

‘‘ Business PoliciesBusiness Policies’’ ……

�� NotNot practicable per se.practicable per se.

�� Must be interpreted into some Must be interpreted into some more concrete business rule(s) more concrete business rule(s) to satisfy their intent.to satisfy their intent.

Important NotesImportant Notes

�� Practicable Practicable �� Automatable?? Automatable?? No, not necessarily!No, not necessarily!

�� Retaining Retaining ‘‘ datadata’’ about about acts of acts of interpretationinterpretationis at the heart of is at the heart of ……

�� ‘‘ Rule managementRule management’’

�� Enhancing corporate Enhancing corporate governancegovernance


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Operative Business Rules Operative Business Rules ……

Guides for conduct or actionGuides for conduct or action

ExamplesExamples

Surgical gloves must be worn in Surgical gloves must be worn in performing surgery.performing surgery.

…… intended to prevent infections.intended to prevent infections.

A customer that has placed an order must A customer that has placed an order must have an assigned agent.have an assigned agent.

…… intended to prevent confused orintended to prevent confused orabsent account responsibility.absent account responsibility.

A gold customer must be allowed access A gold customer must be allowed access to the warehouse.to the warehouse.

…… intended to prevent denial of access. intended to prevent denial of access.

‘‘ OperativeOperative’’ Business Rules Business Rules ……

�� Can be violated directlyCan be violated directly((‘‘ brokenbroken’’ ) ) by people involved by people involved in affairs of the business.in affairs of the business.

�� Govern the onGovern the on--going going conductconductof business activity.of business activity.

�� Always carry the sense of Always carry the sense of obligationobligationor or prohibitionprohibition. .

�� Are always Are always preventativepreventative……


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Operative Business Rules Operative Business Rules ……

A distinguishing feature of the businessA distinguishing feature of the business

rules approachrules approach

‘‘ OperativeOperative’’ Business Rules Business Rules ……

�� Enable the business to run Enable the business to run (i.e., to (i.e., to operateoperate) its activities ) its activities in a manner deemed:in a manner deemed:

�� Suitable,Suitable,

�� Optimal, and/or Optimal, and/or

�� Best aligned with its goals. Best aligned with its goals.

�� Deliberately preclude specific Deliberately preclude specific possibilities (possibilities (of operationof operation) deemed:) deemed:

�� Undesirable, Undesirable,

�� Less effective, or Less effective, or

�� Potentially harmful.Potentially harmful.

ExamplesExamples

NonNon--Automatable: Automatable: A gold customer must A gold customer must be allowed access to the warehousebe allowed access to the warehouse. .

Automatable: Automatable: A customer that has placed A customer that has placed an order must have an assigned agent.an order must have an assigned agent.

Issues Issues ……

�� Detection?Detection?

�� Response?Response?

�� Sanction? Sanction?

�� Level of enforcement Level of enforcement ……


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What about Operative Rules What about Operative Rules ‘‘without teethwithout teeth’’

�� An operativerule rule …… but with a but with a lighterlighter sense of prohibition. sense of prohibition.

�� A different A different level of enforcementlevel of enforcement. .

�� Now the sense: Now the sense: ItIt ’’ s a good thing to try to do this, but if s a good thing to try to do this, but if you canyou can’’ t theret there’’ s no sanctions no sanction..

�� Now simply a Now simply a ‘‘ guidelineguideline’’ ::…… an operative rule without teeth.an operative rule without teeth.

ExampleExample

An order over $1,000 An order over $1,000 shouldshouldnot not be accepted on credit without a be accepted on credit without a credit check. credit check.

�� Note the Note the ‘‘ shouldshould’’ where where before was a before was a ‘‘ mustmust’’ . .

�� What is it? What is it?


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Structural Business Rules Structural Business Rules ……

Criteria for shaping (Criteria for shaping (““structuringstructuring”” ) concepts) concepts

ExamplesExamples

A customer is always considered a A customer is always considered a gold customer if the customer places gold customer if the customer places more than 12 orders during a more than 12 orders during a calendar year.calendar year.

The total price of an order item is The total price of an order item is always computed as the product unit always computed as the product unit price times its quantity.price times its quantity.

‘‘ StructuralStructural’’ Business Rules Business Rules ……

�� Can be illCan be ill--conceived, conceived, misunderstood, or misapplied, misunderstood, or misapplied, but cannot be directly violated.but cannot be directly violated.

�� Are about how the business Are about how the business organizes (i.e., organizes (i.e., structuresstructures) its ) its basic knowledge (concepts).basic knowledge (concepts).

�� Always carry the sense of Always carry the sense of necessitynecessityor or impossibilityimpossibility..

�� Often indicate how inferences Often indicate how inferences or calculations should be made. or calculations should be made.


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Structural Business Rules Structural Business Rules ……

Capturing and applying knowledge Capturing and applying knowledge

ExamplesExamples

HereHere’’ s a particular customer s a particular customer ………… should they be considered gold or not??should they be considered gold or not??

HereHere’’ s a particular order s a particular order ………… do we owe a discount??do we owe a discount??

HereHere’’ s a particular set of symptoms s a particular set of symptoms ………… what is a reasonable diagnosis??what is a reasonable diagnosis??

‘‘ StructuralStructural’’ Business Rules Business Rules ……

�� Enable the business to create Enable the business to create encoded knowledge. encoded knowledge.

�� Allow extrapolating that Allow extrapolating that knowledge in highly organized knowledge in highly organized fashion via inference and fashion via inference and computation rules. computation rules.

�� Are used to evaluate Are used to evaluate current current state of affairsstate of affairs((‘‘ where we arewhere we are’’ ) ) as the need arises as the need arises ……


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What about Practicable Guidance that is What about Practicable Guidance that is notnot a a ……

Necessity, impossibility, obligation, or prohibition Necessity, impossibility, obligation, or prohibition

Question Question ……

�� What is it?What is it?

Example: Example: An account may be held by An account may be held by a person of any age. a person of any age.

This piece of guidance does not This piece of guidance does not ……

�� Establish any necessity or Establish any necessity or impossibility for knowledge about impossibility for knowledge about business activities business activities …… so it is not a structural rule. so it is not a structural rule.

�� Place any obligation or prohibition Place any obligation or prohibition on business conduct on business conduct …… so it is not an operative rule.so it is not an operative rule.

�� Remove any degree of freedomRemove any degree of freedom…… so it is not even a rule!so it is not even a rule!


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Business Advice of Permission or Possibility Business Advice of Permission or Possibility ……

a.k.a. an a.k.a. an ““AdviceAdvice””

Example: Example: An account may be held by An account may be held by a person of any age. a person of any age.

�� This is an advice (of permission).This is an advice (of permission).

�� An advice never removes a degree An advice never removes a degree of freedom of freedom …… so it is not a rule.so it is not a rule.

�� An advice An advice doesdoesprovide guidance provide guidance …… so it is an so it is an ‘‘ element of guidanceelement of guidance’’(along with rules).(along with rules).

Question Question ……

�� Is it worth Is it worth writing down?writing down?


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businessrule

structural rule

element of guidance

rule advice fact typeis based onis based on

operative business rule

structural business rule

The SBVR spectrum of The SBVR spectrum of practicablepracticable guidance guidance ……


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businessrule

structural rule

is derived from

businesspolicy

element of guidance

rule fact typeis based on

operative business rule

structural business rule

advice

The full SBVR spectrum of guidance The full SBVR spectrum of guidance ……


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“…“… guides for conduct or action.guides for conduct or action.””

ExampleExample

A barred driver must not be a A barred driver must not be a driver of a rental car for an driver of a rental car for an open rentalopen rental..

This rule can be This rule can be violatedviolated!!

So given the rule, can we assume (i.e., inferinfer): No barred driver o barred driver ……is driving a rental car? is driving a rental car?



ExampleExample

A driver is always considered a A driver is always considered a barred driver if the driver is barred driver if the driver is convicted of DUI.convicted of DUI.

This rule might be ill-conceived, misunderstood, or misapplied …… but it cannotcannotbe directly violated.

So given the rule, can we assume (i.e., inferinfer): Every driver known to be Every driver known to be convicted of DUI convicted of DUI …… is barred?is barred?

Why the Why the ‘‘big dealbig deal’’ over rules that can be broken? over rules that can be broken?


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Getting to the Point of Knowledge: Summary

1.1. Rule Rule IndependenceIndependence

2.2. The Business The Business Rules Rules ‘‘ MantraMantra’’

3.3. ????

WhatWhat’’s different s different

about the business about the business

Rules approach?Rules approach?

Business Rules

Manifesto



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Getting to the Point of Knowledge: Summary

““ The business rule approach The business rule approach gets your company to the gets your company to the real point of knowledge!real point of knowledge!””

~~~~

Thank You!Thank You!

brs business rules: getting to the point of knowledge · brs about ronald g. ross mr. ross is...

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