What is an Enterprise Business Rule Repository? Do I Need One? · 2012-01-19 · Calculating the ROI Summary – Answering the Questions Questions and Discussion ... Real time collaboration

Rich SouthwellBusiness Development Manager

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What is an Enterprise Business Rule Repository?Do I Need One?

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Agenda

The Business Rules Landscape

The Enterprise Business Rule Repository

Calculating the ROI

Summary – Answering the Questions

Questions and Discussion



Scope and deployment objectives are changing

Approaches and methodologies are evolving

Tactical projectsDepartmental scopeDeployed within business applicationsFinish and move on

Strategic initiativesEnterprise scopeDeployed as reusable servicesSustainability

Moving business rules from point A to point BManaging a list of business rulesRule metadata

Rule lifecycle management for consistency & reuse zMaintaining business logic modelsRule metadata, relationships and dependencies



Scope and deployment objectives are changing

Approaches and methodologies are evolving

Tactical projectsDepartmental scopeDeployed within business applicationsFinish and move on

Strategic initiativesEnterprise scopeDeployed as reusable servicesSustainability

Moving business rules from point A to point BManaging a list of business rulesRule metadata

Rule lifecycle management for consistency & reuse zMaintaining business logic modelsRule metadata, relationships and dependencies

These trends require a robust, enterprise class repository to enable sustainable, scalable business rule documentation,

analysis and management


Rules Management – a simpler approach

Rule Sources

Legacy System Code

Policy Manuals, Internal Documents,

Legislation & Regulations

Subject Matter Experts

Rule Storage, Management & Analysis

Rule Repository

Automated System (non-BRE)

Business Rule Engine (BRE)

Manual Business Process

Business Rule Execution

Rul

e or

Dec

isio

n M

etho

dolo

gy

Results / Statistics / Metrics

Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

nG

atew

ay to

Pro

duct

ion


Rules Management – a simpler approach

Rule Sources

Legacy System Code

Policy Manuals, Internal Documents,

Legislation & Regulations

Subject Matter Experts


Rule Repository





Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

n

Rul

e or

Dec

isio

n M

etho

dolo

gy


Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

n



Rules Management – increased complexity





Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

n

Rul

e or

Dec

isio

n M

etho

dolo

gy


Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

nProcess Models

The Decision Model

Rule Sources


Process Models

The Decision Model

Rule Sources

A critical link between rule sources, process models and rule execution



Manual Business ProcessG

atew

ay to

Pro

duct

ion

Rul

e or

Dec

isio

n M

etho

dolo

gy


Gat

eway

to P

rodu

ctio

n

Process Excellence

Analysis

Governance

Rule Families (Business Rules)

Decisions

Glossary


Agenda



Calculating the ROI




A single, authoritative source about business rules, terms, processes, decisions and their relationships

Maintains a comprehensive glossary of business terms to promote consistent understanding and usage

Provides business context for rules and relates them to business motivations and process models

Organizes entire rule population as reusable structures that highlight relationships and dependencies between rules

Enables rapid dissection of complex decisions for component level analysis

Encourages repeatable processes so that successful outcomes are predictable and consistent.

Ensures repository integrity with versioning and change management processes

Process Excellence

Analysis

GovernanceAnalysis & Management


Decision

Glossary

Structure & Organization


Three must have attributes of an enterprise business rules repository

1. Real-time collaborationMultiple users simultaneously view and modify data in real timeSimplifies communication and eliminates processing bottlenecks


A day in the life of the repository manager

!

Is this right?

These terms are out of date.

Since when? I need to check that.

Where did these rules come from?Oops! .

Isn’t this your area?.

WRONG!

We’re changing directions.


Real time collaboration simplifies communication and eliminates processing bottlenecks

Enterprise Rule Repository

Process Excellence

Analysis

Governance


Decisions

Glossary




2. Accessibility for the entire organizationParticipation from all areas and all levels of the organizationImproves the quality and depth of the repository while creating a valuable information asset


Wide accessibility improves repository depth and quality while creating a valuable information asset

Frequent Users•Business Analysts•Subject Matter Experts•Project Management

Core Users•Business Rule Analysts•System Developers•Rule Engine Developers

Periodic Users•Line Management•Legal & Compliance•Employee Training

Process Excellence

Analysis

Governance


Decisions

Glossary




2. Accessibility for the entire organizationParticipation from all areas and all levels of the organizationImproves the quality and depth of the repository while creating a valuable information asset

3. Robust controls and governanceAutomated tools and processes that manage how information is created and maintained in the repositoryMaintains the integrity of the repository’s contents regardless of its size or the number of users accessing it


Maintaining the Integrity of the Repository

Role Based PermissionsManage the data that an individual can review and modify based on their job or position in the organization

Versioning and Change ManagementEliminates confusion among users about the status of a business rule, term or decision structure

Review and Approval ProcessingEnsure that new entries and proposed changes are appropriately evaluated before they are made available to the user population

Audit Trail and ReportingProvide a comprehensive history of the repository and its contents


Agenda



Calculating the ROI




Use of Repository by Others in the Organization

Reuse of Decision Structures, Rules & Terms

Process & Communication Efficiencies

The value of an enterprise business rule repository increases dramatically as it matures

Project 1 Project 2 Project 3 Project 4 Enterprise

Cum

ulat

ive

Ben

efit

of E

nter

pris

e R

epos

itory

Reuse of Decision Structures, Rules & Terms

Process & Communication EfficienciesProcess & Communication Efficiencies


Agenda



Calculating the ROI




What is an enterprise business rules repository?

An enterprise business rules repository is …A single, authoritative source of information about business rules, terms, processes, decisions and their relationships.

The repository must have these three attributes in order to support enterprise requirements:

1. Real time collaboration2. Accessibility for the entire organization3. Robust governance and controls

An enterprise business rule repository grows and evolves over time as successive projects are completed.

Tangible business value is delivered on the first project and accrues as the repository matures.


Do I need one?

Your organization should consider implementing an enterprise repository if you are …

Taking a more strategic, enterprise approach to business rule and decision managementSeeking improvements in the quality and efficiency of documenting, analyzing and managing business logicStriving for greater consistency and reuse of business terms, rules and decision structures


Agenda



Calculating the ROI



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