Re: (ReqPro) RE: (ROSE) UML and Business Modeling (was UML and Business Rules)

[Richard Howlett]

Title: RE: (ROSE) UML and Business Rules

Hi Romuald,   XML is well suited for describing business rules - take the Business Rules Markup Language (BRML) as an example. The OMG are working on extending UML to include a DTD for business rules. What is business modeling? Well if the system you are modeling is the business, then that's business modeling! If the system being modeled is an information system that supports the business, it is system modeling.   What aspect of the business is being modeled is another matter. Zachman' s framework for enterprise architecture provides a comprehensive and commonly agreed upon perspective. In any case, I find it productive to view a business as a collection of rules of various types. Some of these rules are common to all businesses that operate within a certain area. These are called regulations. Other rules help the business define itself as unique in the marketplace - support, pricing, policy etc. The really curious thing is the lack of attention business rules currently get in many modeling efforts. Though not a popular thing to say, I believe that most shops need to spend less time  modeling objects and more time with rules analysis and management. Architects should also consider the benefit a 'rules engine' may play in their information system designs.   -Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: Romuald Restout To: 'Richard Brand' ; Baker, Bryon ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Buhtz, Greg Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 9:22 AM Subject: (ReqPro) RE: (ROSE) UML and Business Modeling (was UML and Business Rules) I would like to extend the subject to business modeling. David Lyalin started this thread wondering whether UML is well suited for describing business rules.   I am wondering whether UML is well suited for business modeling. And by the way, what do you call �business modeling�? and maybe Bryon can explain to us what is business modeling for Rational? Is it just describing business rules? I have read Eriksonn-Penker book, but I would like to have other opinions.   Romuald Restout Software Architect, Recruitsoft   P: 418.524.5665, x 232 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] W: http://www.recruitsoft.com/   -----Original Message----- From: Richard Brand [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 9:58 PM To: Baker, Bryon; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Buhtz, Greg Subject: RE: (ROSE) UML and Business Rules   Bryon recently wrote "Business rules are captured in a single artifact if you simply have too many to manage. (For example, an application that had a single use case for assessing social security eligibility had over 32,000 business rules imposed by the government.)" In our latest compliance project, our 'artifact' is a complete rulebase developed using Softlaw Corporation's legal expert system. The rulebase uses a sort of boolean logic (values true, false plus an additional "unsure") and has impressive natural language capabilities to assist users at run time (and lawyers during development!) understand what is going on.  Our users can run compliance scenarios arising from government regulation of the Australian Financial Services Industry.  The rulebase has 1,300 logic rules derived primarily from legislation and regulation.  Our database is designed to store complex industry relationships which are mapped to contribute some 3,000 facts which may be needed by the 1,300 rules, in any given senario. The facts used by the rulebase have been tightly integrated with ReqPro, initially to manage the rulebase development.  The integration now is so tight that our data entry screens are generated directly from ReqPro requirements!  See http://programs.rational.com/success/Success_StoryDetail.cfm?ID=247 for more details.  The development team has been around 10 people. For comparison, an Australian social security eligibility system, using the same expert system but without ReqPro, currently has about 160 developers and has, I believe, some 7,000 facts and 4,000 logic rules. Happy to provide more information off-line Richard Brand ------------------------------------------ Manager Business Systems APIR Systems Pty Ltd Unit 2/39 Jardine Street Kingston ACT 2604 Australia phone  61 2 6260 6035 fax      61 2 6260 6037 mobile 0418 568 358