Mixing Rules and Process Sandy Kemsley Kemsley Design Ltd. www.column2.com Business Rules Forum, October 28 th , 2008

Agenda Business process management (BPM) defined Business rules management (BRM) defined BPM + BRM = greater than the sum of the parts Techniques for mixing rules and process

Business process management (BPM) defined

Business rules management (BRM) defined

BPM + BRM = greater than the sum of the parts

Techniques for mixing rules and process

Business Processes Chain of activities producing a business result Usually spans functional silos Requirement to “manage the white space” between functional groups

Chain of activities producing a business result

Usually spans functional silos

Requirement to “manage the white space” between functional groups

BPM Defined A management discipline for improving cross-functional business processes. The methods and technology tools used to manage and optimize business processes.

A management discipline for improving cross-functional business processes.

The methods and technology tools used to manage and optimize business processes.

What’s in a BPMS? Process modeler Repository Execution engine System integration (web services) Work-in-progress management Monitoring and analysis Simulation and optimization

Process modeler

Repository

Execution engine

System integration (web services)

Work-in-progress management

Monitoring and analysis

Simulation and optimization

Process Lifecycle Model Automate Monitor Optimize

BPM Goals Efficiency Automating steps and handoffs Integrating systems and data sources Compliance Achieving and proving standardization Agility Changing processes quickly and easily Visibility See what’s happening in a process

Efficiency

Automating steps and handoffs

Integrating systems and data sources

Compliance

Achieving and proving standardization

Agility

Changing processes quickly and easily

Visibility

See what’s happening in a process

Business Rules Business policies that define an action Decision Constraint Implicit in systems and procedures Explicit in BRMS

Business policies that define an action

Decision

Constraint

Implicit in systems and procedures

Explicit in BRMS

BRM Defined Discipline for discovery and management of business rules Methodologies and tools used to manage rules

Discipline for discovery and management of business rules

Methodologies and tools used to manage rules

What’s in a BRMS? Rules modeler Rules repository Execution engine Monitoring and analysis Simulation

Rules modeler

Rules repository

Execution engine

Monitoring and analysis

Simulation

Doesn’t BPM Have Rules? Typically not full-featured BR: Simple Boolean rules for routing decisions Rules defined for a specific process step Rule changes may require redeploying processes with IT involvement Rule changes may not affect in-flight processes Many process models don’t automate decisions

Typically not full-featured BR:

Simple Boolean rules for routing decisions

Rules defined for a specific process step

Rule changes may require redeploying processes with IT involvement

Rule changes may not affect in-flight processes

Many process models don’t automate decisions

Separating rules from process Externalize decisions from process Routing decisions Work assignment Set parameters Call BRMS from BPMS for decision Standard web services call Tight integration by vendors

Externalize decisions from process

Routing decisions

Work assignment

Set parameters

Call BRMS from BPMS for decision

Standard web services call

Tight integration by vendors

Claims Process Before… Source: Corticon

Claims Process After… Source: Corticon

Splitting rules between platforms In process model: Simple routing decisions Rarely changing In rules system: “Business decisions” Frequently changing Process and rules may be from same vendor

In process model:

Simple routing decisions

Rarely changing

In rules system:

“Business decisions”

Frequently changing

Process and rules may be from same vendor

Benefits of Separation Full BR functionality: Complex rules automate manual processes Advanced rule design, harvesting, simulation Reuse rules across processes/applications Change rules without changing process Rule changes affect in-flight processes Business can change rule parameters

Full BR functionality:

Complex rules automate manual processes

Advanced rule design, harvesting, simulation

Reuse rules across processes/applications

Change rules without changing process

Rule changes affect in-flight processes

Business can change rule parameters

Challenges of Separation BPM and BRM may be acquired independently with no thought of integration Processes and their rules may be modeled in different environments

BPM and BRM may be acquired independently with no thought of integration

Processes and their rules may be modeled in different environments

Summary Externalizing and automating decisions is the key to process agility More sophisticated capabilities of BRM allow more process automation BPM + BRM turns policies into action and builds for change

Externalizing and automating decisions is the key to process agility

More sophisticated capabilities of BRM allow more process automation

BPM + BRM turns policies into action and builds for change

Questions? Sandy Kemsley Kemsley Design Ltd. www.column2.com