A Framework for Business Rules

The subject of business rules is complex. We propose a 4-dimensional framework to better understand, communicate, and realize such rules in organizations and application systems. Our 4-dimensions are domain, that considers the role of business rules in business; system for properties of business rule management systems; application platform to understand support for business rules applications; and representation for expressing business rules. We derive these from work of the Business Rules Group, namely, the Business Rules Manifesto, Business Motivation Model, and Semantics of Business Vocabulary and business Rules, SBVR. We characterize our research position in terms of this framework.