An example Decision Model shown as part of a process for receiving a claim and reviewing permits, prompted by a question from a LinkedIn group member.

1. The Decision Model
A worked example for Cristian Cerb

2. Current Decision Model Issues
‘Pending Prospecting Permit’ actually
implies a procedural check, that is, if a
permit was not pending, then there
would be no need to make a decision
Fact Types should map to items in a data dictionary or glossary. Decisions
are usually setting the Fact Values of those Fact Types (that is, setting the
value of the attribute).
So in this example, you are actually seeking to determine what the
Permit Status should be. That involves a check against the Claim Date.
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012

3. Addressing the Issues
Put the procedural check in the process
Assumes that on receipt of the claim, a check is made of a database that
holds the records of any permits. The task checks whether there are any
with a status of ‘Pending’. If there aren’t, then processing of the claim can
continue, otherwise, a decision needs to be made based on ‘Claim Date’
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012

4. Addressing the Issues
Revise the Decision Model to include relevant Fact Types
Conditions Conclusion
Rule Pattern Claim Date Permit Status
P1 is less than February 1st is Refused
P1 is greater than or equal to February 1st is Pending
The current state of the permit is not included in the conditions, because the only
input to the decision is if the permit is ‘Pending’. Therefore, the only check that now
needs to be made is against the claim date.
The conclusion then sets the new status of the permit (hence naming this model
‘Determine Permit Status’). It is assumed that the status is unchanged from
‘Pending’ if the Claim Date is equal to or greater than Feb 1st
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012

5. What Next?
Further assumptions have been made that the claimant needs
to be informed that the permit has been refused and then
processing of the claim can continue.
So there is a gateway in the process that uses the outcome of
the decision to decide how to route the downstream activity
(see next slide)
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012

6. What Next?
The permit status is updated onto the permit record as a result of the
decision. If the permit is refused, the claimant is informed and processing
continues. If it isn’t refused, then the process goes straight to claim
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012

7. Assumptions
There have been a few assumptions in putting this example
together:
– A check is not made of the date when the claim is received to
determine whether to check for a pending permit in the first place
– The permit stays at a status of ‘Pending’ if the claim is received after
1st Feb
– Refusal of the permit doesn’t prevent further claim processing
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(C) Visionalysis Ltd 2012 02/10/2012