BRManifesto FAQ: Article 8 - For the Sake of the Business, Not Technology

   The Business Rules Group
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FAQ re: Principle 8.1
Question: What is the sense of "business practice and guidance" in Manifesto principle 8.1?

Rules are about business practice and guidance; therefore, rules are motivated by business goals and objectives and are shaped by various influences.

The intended sense covers coordination of operational business activity, as well as the know-how associated with the product/service(s).


FAQ re: Principle 8.1
Question: What kind of 'influences' is the Manifesto referring to in principle 8.1?

Rules are about business practice and guidance; therefore, rules are motivated by business goals and objectives and are shaped by various influences.

Refer to pp. 27-34 of the Business Motivation Model (BMM - 1.4) available on http://www.businessrulesgroup.org/bmm.shtml.


FAQ re: Principle 8.2
Question: What kind of 'costs' is the Manifesto referring to in principle 8.2?

Rules always cost the business something.

"Costs" are meant to include both direct costs (e.g., the people, money, etc. required to administer rules) and indirect costs (e.g., the learning curves, organizational adjustments, etc. of affected workers). "Costs" do not, however, include costs of transition to a rules approach. There are naturally costs associated with transition to any new approach.


FAQ re: Principle 8.4
Question: What does Manifesto mean by principle 8.4?

'More rules' is not better. Usually fewer 'good rules' is better.

Many companies have dozens of exceptions to every rule, making management, dissemination and enforcement of rules difficult and expensive. Having a smaller number of good rules is preferable, where "good" is measured in terms of productivity, agility, and achievement of business goals.


FAQ re: Principle 8.5
Question: What does Manifesto mean by "system" in principle 8.5?

An effective system can be based on a small number of rules. Additional, more discriminating rules can be subsequently added, so that over time the system becomes smarter.

The intended sense is "IT system" or "application system". The same thought applies, however, to viewing some part of the business (or all of it) as a "system".


References:

[1] The Manifesto is free, only 2 pages long, translated into 15 languages. Have a quick look (or re-look!). No sign up required. Well worth your time.

Standard citation for this article:


citations icon
The Business Rules Group, "BRManifesto FAQ: Article 8 - For the Sake of the Business, Not Technology" Business Rules Journal, Vol. 3, No. 12, (Dec. 2002)
URL: http://www.brcommunity.com/a2002/s022.html

About our Contributor:


   The Business Rules Group
The Business Rules Group As prepared by members of The Business Rules Group,

Originally a project within GUIDE International, the Business Rules Group [BRG] subsequently became an independent organization. BRG's membership comprises experienced practitioners in the field of systems and business analysis methodology. BRG's members are practitioners who work in both the public and the private sectors.

The BRG charter is to formulate statements and supporting standards about the nature and structure of business rules, the relationship of business rules with the way an enterprise is organized, and the relationship of business rules with systems' architectures.

BRG's standards work has been picked up and merged with OMG's.

For more on the BRG visit: http://www.businessrulesgroup.org/theBRG.php

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