Introduction

  • A business manages its own behavior through carefully selected and communicated rules
  • A business introduces change by changing its business rules
  • It is important for analysts to document these rules as they may affect information systems.

What is a Business Rule?

DEFINED: A business rule, is a statement that influences the behavior of an organization.

  • It helps employees make decisions without having to ask a manager every time.
  • An information system should support and enforce these rules.
  • Good rules can help create new knowledge from existing information.
  • There is a good chance these rules are not written down. So observe carefully.

How does that work?

EXAMPLE: Hotel has a rule that a customer can only check in if they have a reservation.

SITUATION: Customer arrives and says “I saw your vacancy and would like to check into a room.” Clerk responds, “Do you have a reservation?” Customer says “No.”

The above business rule must be satisfied. So the clerk responds “Just a moment while I make a reservation for you. Then we can get you checked in.”

Properties of a Good Business Rule

  • ATOMIC - Cannot be decomposed without losing meaning. (No use of “and”, “or”, “but”.)
  • DECLARATIVE – It explains “how to”, where and when the rule is imposed.
  • PRECISE - Has only one interpretation.
  • JUSTIFIED - Supports the objectives of the business.
  • AUTHORIZED – Someone relevant to the business is empowered to create the rule. (i.e., the janitor does not have authority to create a rule on how orders are received.)

Business Rule Examples

  • Everyone that appears to be under the age of 25 years needs to have their ID checked.
  • We only ship complete orders.
  • Before a work order can be completed, a customer’s information must be collected.
  • Any customer that owes more than $5,000.00 cannot place new orders.
  • All vehicles require a visual inspection for damage before being released to the customer.

Five Steps for Creating a Business Rule Collection

  1. Collect business ramblings
  2. Translate these ramblings into business rules
  3. Determine which of these rules are relevant to the project objectives
  4. Determine the data-rule dependencies
  5. Determine inter-rule relationships

Theory Home

ANAP1525 Home