Business rule diagrams

Definition

Business rule diagrams present business rules and business rule containers along with their dependencies and relationships with other model elements.

Business rule diagrams (an example is shown in the screenshot below) can be created in business rules or in business rule containers.

An example of a business rule diagram

Business rule containers and business rules

The main structural elements in business rule diagrams are business rules and business rule containers.

Business rule containers have the job of grouping and organizing business rules. Business rule containers are created using the "Create a business rule container" icon.

A business rule is a statement that defines or constrains some aspect of the business that is intended to assert business structure or influence the behavior of your business. Business rules are created using the "Create a business rule" icon.

Business rule dependencies

Besides the business rule and the business rule container, you can also express meaningful relationships between these elements by using one or more of the following business rule dependencies:

· Implement

· Refine

· Related

· Refers

· Trace

The "Implement" dependency defines a link between a process or activity describing the business rule and the business rule itself.

To create an "Implement" dependency, use the "Create an Implement dependency" icon.

The "Refine" dependency expresses that a business rule is refined into a more detailed one, within a specific context.

To create a "Refine" dependency, use the "Create a Refine dependency" icon.

The "Related" dependency links business rules that have a semantic connection (they concern similar or related subjects).

To create a "Related" dependency, use the "Create a Related dependency" icon.

The "Refers" dependency indicates that the semantics of the business rule refer to the connected element. In general, business rules refer to terms.

To create a "Refers" dependency, use the "Create a Refers dependency" icon.

The "Trace" dependency describes how a design or implementation model represents the business rule. At least one model element must have been created in order to express the business rule.

To create a "Trace" dependency, use the "Create a Trace dependency" icon.