Learn from the Expert (Part 2) - Textual rules: Out of fashion or a Classic?

Silvie   Spreeuwenberg
Silvie Spreeuwenberg Founder / Director, LibRT Read Author Bio || Read All Articles by Silvie Spreeuwenberg

This is the second in a series of columns inspired by one of my recent consulting assignments.  In that project I reviewed the work of a couple of novice rule authors.

Nowadays there is renewed interest in graphical ways to state rules (compared with the textual format used in SBVR and RuleSpeak).  In this column I want to assess if the graphical methods would have helped our novice rule analyst (from the previous column[1]) to write rules better and quicker. 

Last time, we ended with the following textual rule:

The end-date of a policy must be equal to the most recent date of the following dates: 

  • date insurer is not eligible,
  • date insurer stops payment of the insurance,
  • date insurer ends the insurance.

Let's see how this rule is presented in three formats:  Decision table, Decision tree, and Nassi–Shneiderman diagram.

Decision table

Decision tree

Nassi–Shneiderman diagram

Figure 1.  Three graphical ways to represent rules.

In my opinion, the textual form is the most readable version for anyone who has at least finished elementary school, and I believe most business people will agree with me.  What is an easy-to-use best practice that provides guidance for this conclusion?  In other words, how may we know in advance which format is useful for which case?

A graphical representation assumes that a certain algorithm is processed while the diagram is read.  The algorithm for the decision table (for example) can be described as follows:

IF the concept in each column header matches the concept expression in each corresponding cell
THEN perform the action in the same row as the cell and continue with the next row.

When the logic of a given rule easily fits the diagram's algorithm we may find that presentation useful for the rule.  However, since the logic we wanted to express in our example rule does not fit the algorithm for a decision table at all, the table version of our rule does not read well.

Below is an example of a rule that does fit well in a decision table (green), along with some rules that do not fit well (red).

  • The discount for a customer must be equal to 20% if the customer is a gold customer.
  • Net income must be equal to the sum of the gross income plus taxes.
  • A visitor must show an ID.
  • A shipment always has a destination.

Keep in mind that the one that fits well with a decision table representation uses the word IF (like the algorithm for a decision table).

Hmmm....  Does this mean that we can't use graphics at all for such rules?  There are some alternatives that may be useful.  I will discuss these in my next column.  Meanwhile, you can look at the new whitepaper on decision tables from Ron Ross.[2] 

References

[1]  Silvie Spreeuwenberg, "Learn from the Expert (Part 1) — A Business Analyst must ask "Why?"," Business Rules Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Mar. 2011), URL: http://www.BRCommunity.com/a2011/b584.htmlreturn to article

[2]  Ronald G. Ross, Decision Analysis Using Decision Tables and Business Rules, URL:  http://www.brsolutions.com/b_decision.php return to article

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Standard citation for this article:


citations icon
Silvie Spreeuwenberg , "Learn from the Expert (Part 2) - Textual rules: Out of fashion or a Classic?" Business Rules Journal, Vol. 12, No. 5, (May 2011)
URL: http://www.brcommunity.com/a2011/b595.html

About our Contributor:


Silvie   Spreeuwenberg
Silvie Spreeuwenberg Founder / Director, LibRT

Silvie Spreeuwenberg has a background in artificial intelligence and is the co-founder and director of LibRT. With LibRT, she helps clients draft business rules in the most efficient and effective way possible. Her clients are characterized by a need for agility and excellence in executing their unique business strategy or policy. Silvie's experience has resulted in the development of tools and techniques to increase the quality of business rules. She writes, "We believe that one should focus on quality management of business rules to make full profit of the business rules approach." LibRT is located in the Netherlands; for more information visit www.silviespreeuwenberg.com & www.librt.com

Read All Articles by Silvie Spreeuwenberg
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