A Relation-Algebra Language to Specify Declarative Business Rules

Lex Wedemeijer

2014

Abstract

Business rules that apply within a business context must be formulated in a comprehensible way to allow validation by their stakeholders, but at the same time they must be specified with enough precision to assure their correct implementation in computer applications. These opposing demands of business rule modeling are not easily reconciled. Formal rule modeling languages may be exact but they are often lacking in understandability, whereas controlled natural languages are more easily understood but generally fall short in exactness. We use Relation Algebra as the foundation to set up a controlled language for declarative business rules that is compatible with practical demands, such as laid out in the Business Rules Manifesto. Our version of controlled language comprises just five language statements that are orthogonal by design, which makes for a language that is suited for use by novice business rule modelers. The language lets users set up a business vocabulary that stakeholders can understand, and it allows to specify business rules about the objects in the vocabulary in a comprehensible if-then syntax. Rules expressed in our language are precise enough to permit the automatic generation of a prototype information system which is guaranteed to comply with the rules. Stakeholders can explore this prototype to verify the vocabulary, and to check whether the specified rules are valid and match their original intent of the business context. We show how we can ascertain correctness of our language and metamodel, by adopting a reflective approach and subject our context to rule analysis and specification, just like any other business context. It provides us with a prototype system that lets us explore the rules about rules, and validate the rule compliance.

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Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Wedemeijer L. (2014). A Relation-Algebra Language to Specify Declarative Business Rules . In Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Business Modeling and Software Design - Volume 1: BMSD, ISBN 978-989-758-032-1, pages 63-73. DOI: 10.5220/0005424400630073


in Bibtex Style

@conference{bmsd14,
author={Lex Wedemeijer},
title={A Relation-Algebra Language to Specify Declarative Business Rules},
booktitle={Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Business Modeling and Software Design - Volume 1: BMSD,},
year={2014},
pages={63-73},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0005424400630073},
isbn={978-989-758-032-1},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Business Modeling and Software Design - Volume 1: BMSD,
TI - A Relation-Algebra Language to Specify Declarative Business Rules
SN - 978-989-758-032-1
AU - Wedemeijer L.
PY - 2014
SP - 63
EP - 73
DO - 10.5220/0005424400630073