Why BPM modeling requires The Decision Model to reduce process model complexity. By Suleiman Shehu www.azinta.com

1. An Azinta presentation for DevCSI Developer 2011
Suleiman Shehu, CEO
Azinta Systems
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

2.  Business Process Modelling (BPM)
◦ Model business processes using graphical notations
◦ Model the sequences of tasks within a business process
◦ Expected Benefits:
 Great for the automation of business processes using a BPM
execution engine (e.g. jBPM, Activiti, Intalio BPM, etc.)
 Improved business process agility and optimisation
◦ Potential Problems:
 Most BPM models are too complex due to the unstructured
mixing of business logic (rules) within process models
 Difficult to make (and test) changes to BPM models resulting
from changes in business logic (rules)
 Complexity of large scale BPM projects can often lead to
significant project over-runs and project failure.
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

3.  Business Logic (Rules)
◦ Business logic (rules) are critical for making business
decisions and the key competitive differentiator
◦ Business Rules are the “why” behind use cases,
processes and systems
◦ Expected Benefits:
 Logic (rules) are the means of guiding business behaviour
toward business objectives
 Can be automated using a BRE engine (e.g. Drools,
OpenRules, etc.)
◦ Current Problems:
 Prior to The Decision Model, there was no universal rigorous
way to separate business logic (rules) as something totally
unique in its own right with its own look-and-feel and its
own agile change cycle
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

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7.  Changes the way we  Changes the way we
manage, leverage and manage, leverage and
store data store business logic
 Recognises that business
 Recognizes that data has logic has its own
its own existence existence
 Elevate data as an  Elevates business
organisational asset decisions (logic) as an
organisational asset
 Introduces rigor through  Introduces rigor through
normalisation principles normalisation principles
 Impacts technology,  Impacts technology,
methodology and best methodology and best
practises practises
The Relational Model The Decision Model
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

8. Before Decision Model After Decision Model
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

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10.  Business logic is the means by which the
business derives conclusions from facts.
 The simplest case is the evaluation of a single
fact leading to a single conclusion
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

11.  An atomic piece of business logic
◦ Consists of zero to many conditions
◦ Leading to a conclusion about one fact type
◦ Each condition is an atomic logical expression
about an atomic fact type
◦ Conditions are ANDed together, never ORed
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

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20.  The Decision Model contains:
◦ Structural Principles – Structural simplicity
◦ Declarative Principles – Declarative Structure
◦ Integrity Principles – Optimal Logical Integrity
These normalisation principles ensure that Rule
Families and their relationships are free of
logical errors and that there are no conflict or
duplication in the business logic.
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

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22. Decisions
Rule or Decision Methodology
Rule Families
Gateway to Production
Gateway to Production
Process Models Business Rule
(Business Rules)
Engine (BRE)
Glossary
Automated System
(non-BRE)
Rule Sources Analysis
Manual Business
Governance Process
Process
Excellence
Decision Models
Results / Statistics / Metrics
© 2010-2011 New Wisdom Software. All Rights Reserved.

23.  Download The Decision Model Primer from KPI International
website www.kpiusa.com
 Read The Decision Model Book
 Contact Suleiman Shehu at Azinta Systems to:
◦ Get details of Decision Model Training courses
◦ Evaluate the RuleGuide product
◦ Conduct a Decision Model pilot project
Azinta Systems contact details:
Email: suleiman.shehu@azinta.com
Telephone: +44(0) 845 658 6909
Acknowledgement:
Azinta acknowledges that several slides in this presentation are
copyright to KPI International
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011

24. Millennium House
3 Humber Trading Estate
Humber Road
London
NW2 6DW
Tel: +44 (0) 845 658 6909
www.azinta.com
suleiman.shehu@azinta.com
Commercial In Confidence - (c) Azinta 2011 16 February 2011