Building a decision model using the new Decision Model and Notation (DMN) makes for better business analysis and improved system requirements. Experience shows that there are three main reasons for defining decision requirements as part of an overall requirements process: 1. Current requirements approaches don't tackle the decision-making that is increasingly important in information systems. 2. While important for all software development projects, decision requirements are especially important for projects adopting business rules and advanced analytic technologies. 3. Decisions are a common language across business, IT and analytic organizations improving collaboration, increasing reuse, and easing implementation. In this webinar presentation, James Taylor, CEO of Decision Management Solutions, demonstrates why you should model decision requirements, how to use DMN and how to get started quickly with decision modeling. Watch the webinar recast here: https://decisionmanagement.omnovia.com/archives/183108

1. 3 Reasons why
Decision Modeling
with DMN Makes
for Better Business
Analysis
JamesTaylor
CEO

2. ©2014 Decision Management Solutions 1
Your Presenter – James Taylor
CEO of Decision Management Solutions
Works with clients to improve their
business by applying analytic technology
to automate & improve decisions
Spent the last 11 years championing
Decision Management and developing
Decision Management Systems

3. 2©2014 Decision Management Solutions
Why Does Decision Modeling With DMN
Make For Better Business Analysis?
Specifies decision making in processes and
systems
Identifies opportunities for Business Rules and
Business Analytics
Improves collaboration and re-use

4. Why Model Decisions?

5. Existing Techniques Don’t Do Decisions
Use Cases
• Key steps are decisions
• Decisions not modeled
Process Models
• Decisions made by tasks
• Peanut Butter Rules
Requirements Lists
• Decisions are required
• How is not modeled
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A Simple Example Without Decisions

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The Same Example With A Decision
How risky is the policyholder?
How risky is the claim?
What’s the right action?

8. This government agency
used decision models to
understand its
requirements for a new
package selection effort
point.
The combination of process
models AND decision
models was key.
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Decision Models & Process Models

9. Decisions Are A Common Language
Business
Decision
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10. This decision model of best
practices for deciding if a
claim should be paid
automatically, examined or
referred for fraud ensures
front life staff are taking
advantage of analytic fraud
detection.
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Analytic Decision Models in Claims

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Decisions Increase Understanding
Uncover
Gaps
Automation
Opportunities
Data
Requirements
Shared
Understanding
Rule Sources

12. This client built a decision
model with over 300
decision nodes to manage a
complex eligibility decision
involving thousands of rules.
The graphical decision
model facilitated discussions
and made it easy to manage
and navigate.
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Decision Models & Business Rules

13. What is DMN?

14. “… provide a common notation that is readily understandable by all
business users... DMN creates a standardized bridge for the gap
between the business decision design and decision implementation.”
Use Cases
1. Modeling Human Decision-making
2. Modeling Requirements for automated Decision-making
3. Implementing automated Decision-making
Specification
 In Beta, released expected Q3-2014
 Decision Management Solutions, IBM, Oracle,TIBCO, FICO, Escape
Velocity, KUL, Model Systems, KPI,Visumpoint
 IIBA Business Analyst Body of Knowledge Guide v3
Decision Modeling and Notation (DMN)
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15. Integrates with
process models at
decision points
Maps to
implementation
details
DMN In Context
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DMN Delivers Decision Requirements
Know-how
• How to make it
• How to improve it
Precision
• Exactly how?
• How to avoid
technical details?
Automation
• All automated?
• If not, how much can
be and for whom?
•
• Where does it come
Information
What is needed?
from?

17. Decision Modeling And BABOK® v3
BABOK® Guide, Version 3.0
©2014 Decision Management Solutions
Excerpted from the BABOK®, © IIBA
Perspectives
Business Intelligence
Business Process Management

18. How To Use DMN

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Decision Modeling Steps
Identify
decisions
Describe
decisions
Model
decision
requirements
Complete
and
implement
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Many Ways To Discover Decisions
Business Events
Legacy Systems
Business Processes
Business Intelligence
BrainstormKPIs
Micro and hidden
Decisions

21. Describe Decisions
Define Decisions with
A question
Possible answers
Q: Which marketing offer should be presented to this
customer during this interaction?
A: Any current, available marketing offer in the database
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22. Put Decisions In Context
Processes
Processes require decisions
Tasks execute decisions
Events
Trigger decisions
Systems
Implement decisions
Know which business
processes will be improved
by your rules
Know when your decisions
will be needed
Know how you will have to
deploy your rules
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23. Decisions Require Information
“Determine Parts Availability”
requires BOM and Inventory information
“ValidateTax Return”
requires Return and Citizen information
“Refer claim for fraud”
requires Claim and Provider information
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24. Decisions Require Knowledge
“Reorder parts”
requires supplier capabilities and shortage risks
“ValidateTax Return”
requires Tax Regulations
“Refer claim for fraud”
requires likelihood of fraud
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Decompose The Decisioning
How do we make a decision?
Guidelines, policy
Expertise
Regulations
Predictive Analytic Models
Data Mining Results
What is required to make decision?
Information
The results of other decisions
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26. Decisions Require Decisions
Is this a good time to make an offer?
Which product should the offer be for?
How valuable an offer?
These decisions must be made first
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Manages Automation

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Shows Impact

30. Documented
sources
Coherent
rule groups
Ownership,
volatility
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Manages Business Rules

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Ties Analytics To Outcomes

32. How To Get Started
Quickly

33. Begin With The Decision In Mind
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34. What is needed
Multi-user, Collaborative
Integrated Database
Shared Database, Reusable
components
Automated Consistency
and Completeness Checks
Living Repository
Use The Right Modeling Tools
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What you have
Single User
Text and Diagrams kept
separate
Manual Reuse
Hand Checking
One-Shot Documents
Standards-based

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DecisionsFirst Modeler
Collaborative, social, cloud-based platform
Focused on Decision Models
Based on DMN
DecisionsFirst Modeler

36. Starter Services
Model Building Service - give us your
document, we build an initial model
Joint Requirements Development
Service - online, interactive modeling
sessions providing coaching and
advice as you build your model
Jump Start Service - 2 days onsite
designed to make your project and
team quickly productive and self-
sufficient
Quick turn around, time-boxed, fixed price
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37. Questions?

38. Recap and Next Steps

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Decision Modeling With DMN
Better Business Analysis through
Models decision making in processes and systems
Identifies opportunities for Business Rules and
Business Analytics
Improves collaboration and re-use

40. Succeed with Decisions

41. Thank You
40
JamesTaylor, CEO
james@decisionmanagementsolutions.com
DecisionsFirst Modeler
decisionmanagementsolutions.com/decisionsfirst-modeler