Business Rules and Information Systems: Aligning It with Business Goals

Information systems often fail because their requirements are poorly defined. This book shows IT professionals how to specify more precisely and more effectively what their systems need to do. The key lies in the discovery and application of what are called business rules. A business rule is a compact and simple statement that represents some important aspect of a business. By capturing the rules for your business--the logic that governs its operation--you will gain the ability to create systems fully aligned with your business needs.

In this book, Tony Morgan provides a thorough introduction to business rules, as well as a practical framework for integrating them into information systems. He shows you how to identify and express business rules, offers practical strategies for their use, and explains the key elements of logic that underpin their application.

Topics covered include: Understanding the role of business rules and models in information systems developmentUsing models to structure and manage business activities, including e-commerceDefining and discovering business rulesControlling business rule qualityFitting business rules into varied technical architecturesImplementing business rules using available technology

Whether you are an analyst, designer, developer, or technical manager, the in-depth information and practical perspective in this valuable resource will guide you in your efforts to build rule-centered information systems that fully support the goals of your organization.
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Defining accurate, business-focused requirements: the #1 factor in successful enterprise development.

-- How to use "business rules" to align your software with your business goals -- and dramatically reduce development cost and risk.

-- Technical architectures, next-generation tools, scheduling and budgeting techniques, and much more.

-- For everyone with a stake in the success of enterprise software systems: executives, project leaders, team members, and customers.

The #1 reason software development projects fail has nothing to do with coding: Simply put, programmers are programming the wrong things, and no amount of cleverness in coding can compensate. The solution is a more intelligent approach to defining the requirements of information systems: one that draws upon the concept of "business rules, " to plan software which is thoroughly aligned with business goals. Leading consultant Tony Morgan begins by outlining an "alternative future, " in which the development of new IT systems is driven by structured descriptions of a business and its key goals. He thoroughly explains the ideas behind business rules, helping IT professionals establish a systematic framework for identifying them, and for validating the business logic underlying them -- thereby dramatically reducing cost and risk. Next, he presents realistic mechanisms for translating business rules into software, covering technical architectures, tools, techniques for managing rules and models on an ongoing basis, and much more. For all IT executives, managers, developers, analysts, and project team members, and for anyone with a stake in designing, implementing, and running efficient IT systems.