Explains and explores the potential for using VisiRule to design and deploy online legal advice and compliance systems

1. VisiRule
An overview of
VisiRule™ - a legal
decision modeling
tool from LPA
Clive Spenser, Marketing Director,
LPA, October 2013
Copyright (c) LPA Ltd 2013
VisiRule ™ is a trademark of LPA

2. A simple VisiRule chart …

3. … produces an interactive web Q&A session

4. … and at the end, a conclusion and trail

5. What is VisiRule?
• Unlike other visual modeling tools, VisiRule™ is
specifically designed for building robust decision
models
• VisiRule charts are easy for anyone to make and
share - they are created graphically, like MindMap®
• Unlike other computer tools that can interpret and
execute visual models, VisiRule helps ensure users
create models which are consistent and have a high
degree of "referential integrity"
• VisiRule charts can be used other programs and
processes
Mind Map® is a registered trademark of the Buzan organisation

6. What is VisiRule?
• “VisiRule is not designed to automatically
construct visual models or executable code
from data, rather it is a tool that allows
experts to build decision models using a
graphical paradigm, like Mind Map®, but one
that can be annotated using code and/or
Boolean logic and then executed and
exported to other programs and processes.”
Mind Map® is a registered trademark of the Buzan organisation

7. Principle uses of VisiRule
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Compliance and Regulations
Legal Advice
Resource Allocation and Configuration
Diagnostics, Fault-finding, Troubleshooting
Best practice in all sectors
Planning and Scheduling

8. Relationship between chart, table and rules
Using VisiRule, we can draw
a simple chart, Fig. 1, where
each expression box
evaluates a compound logic
expression

9. VisiRule Authoring
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Windows Desktop Authoring tool for specifying decision logic
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easy to use dedicated flow-chart tool which knows a bit about what
you are doing and so can you help spot errors and make intelligent
changes
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dedicated support for interactive questions and answers
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can handle simple logic and complex logic
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which can be immediately tested in situ using built-in engine
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There is a direct mapping onto flow-charts

10. VisiRule
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Point ‘n Click to add new objects
Click ‘n Drag to connect objects
Delete a link and associated objects
Edit expressions in-line
Automatic aggregation for menus
Checks for meaningful connections

11. Intelligent Design Tool
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Automatic linking/de-linking of objects
Horizontal/vertical alignment
Horizontal/vertical spacing
Syntax checker for expressions & code
Show/don’t show information fields
Propagation of name changes

12. Question Types
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Single choice questions
Multiple choice questions
Mathematical input questions
Set and text input questions
Statement boxes for computable
questions
• Code boxes for extra functions

13. Advanced Features
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Incorporate bespoke code
Access to back-end data sets
Refer to previous answers by name
Set inclusion expression language
Continuation nodes for sub-charts

14. VisiRule Authoring Environment

15. VisiRule Authoring Environment

16. What does VisiRule enable you to
do?
• Produce a ‘map’ of your decisions and
processes
• which you can test immediately in-situ
• with facilities to generate Decision Tables
• or export as XML data
• Plus you can generate executable code

17. VisiRule Authoring
• Easy-to-use, familiar representation
• Powerful Graph structure (better than
trees)
• Logic-based means reliable and verifiable
• Immediate testing and debugging
• Integration with standard IT architecture
• Questions can use corporate data

18. VisiRule Web Session
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Questions dynamically generated
Integration with CSS and HTML
Optional chart viewer
Optional question trail
Answers can be extracted from database
Answers can be stored in database

19. Interactive Web Session

20. VisiRule Outputs
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Charts as shareable diagrams
Code for exporting and embedding
Text for exporting, editing and exploring
Generation of test suites
Decision Tables for auditing and
documentation

21. A simple VisiRule chart …

22. Generated Decision Table

23. Generated Decision Table

24. Generated XML Table

25. Goals of VisiRule
• Makes technology available to nonprogrammers via familiar visual paradigm
• Question and answer-based processes
which can be rapidly tested and deployed
• Rapid prototyping environment but charts
can be used to deliver actual applications
• Run-time architecture integrates into
existing web and desktop standards

26. Features of VisiRule Automation
• Interactive tool helps you untangle and organize
your logic
• which you can test and validate immediately
• and produce shareable diagrams which
communicate what to do and when
• Diagrams which can be published to the web to
help guide and advise people
• with questions and answer session recorded

27. Benefits of VisiRule Automation
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Consensus building decision making
Knowledge sharing and management
Improved consistency
Increased productivity
Less mistakes
Reduced risk
Increased and faster availability
Access to expert advice and know-how

28. Future plans for VisiRule
• Extended chart viewer to aid navigation
• Ability to answer questions out of sequence
• Enable server to identify potential solution paths