Coupling Process Models and Business Rules

Abstract

Two techniques commonly used in the conceptual modelling of information systems are process modelling and business rule modelling. In this paper we propose a technique for associating certain types business rules with structures in a process modelling language. This coupling of the two models allows them to be used as complimentary languages in conceptual modelling; the process language being suitable when modelling how activities interact, whilst the business rule model is suitable when we need to make precise statements about a certain activity. The ability to model certain aspects of business rules within the process model is particularly important in distributed organisations, where the process model may be used as a means of communication between different parts of the organisation. The coupling also serves (1) to make apparent what effect re-engineering of one model has on the structure of the other model, and (2) indicate how the process model may be used to drive the creation of business rules.