Business rule

About: Business rule is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 11193 publications have been published within this topic receiving 270568 citations.

Modelling, Auto-generation and Adaptation of Multi-Agent Systems

Abstract: We propose a lightweight approach that provides mechanisms for dynamic agent behavior at run-time. Agent collaborations are modeled in UML diagrams and agent behaviors are encoded in XML-based business rules. The combination of these captures the behavioral requirements and governs interagent and intra-agent behaviors. A CASE tool has been developed to enable the dynamic specification of agent behaviors and the generation of the agent systems. Agents get the appropriate rules in XML format and then translate and execute them at run-time. These rules are externalized and so maintenance effort is reduced, since there is no need to recode and regenerate the agent system. Rather, the system model is easily configured by users and agents will always get up-to-date rules to execute at run-time. The approach is illustrated with the aid of an e-business example and its efficacy discussed.

From Business Motivation to Business Model and Beyond: A Customer Value-Driven Approach

Abstract: Business architecture offers a comprehensive view of the business of an enterprise. This chapter explores how to reasonably link the different constituents of the business architecture, primarily at the level of business motivation and business model, while considering effects on the business execution. In particular, this chapter illustrates three main tools/approaches to help gain insights into an enterprise’s business motivation and business model (including the operating model): the “Value Disciplines,” the “Business Model Canvas,” and the 2-by-2 matrix of the operating model in terms of integration/standardization. It is demonstrated that these should not be considered and thus applied isolated from each other. Decisions with respect to the value strategy should be reflected in the business model, for example. Apple is used as an exemplary case to illustrate the application of the three tools. Specifically, it is shown how Apple’s (assumed) business motivation is reflected in the business model choices, and how these are in turn implemented at the business execution layer.

Inventory management in small business: a decision matrix approach

Abstract: This article provides a decision tool to assist small business managers in their search for an appropriate inventory management system. In the article, a functional taxonomy that would match various small business sectors with certain operational consideration points is proposed. This taxonomy is basically a two-dimensional decision matrix that can equip these managers with various perspectives which are broad enough to reveal potential gains of different systems.

Designing consumer-aligned services using business value modelling

Abstract: Given the dominance of service industries in today's economy, service improvement and innovation have become major concerns of many enterprises. To address these challenges, the service design should start at the business level at which services can be identified to provide values in an economically viable way by satisfying consumers' preferences for quality aspects. However, high-level business concepts, like value offerings, are hardly linked to technology levels, such as SOA and web services. Relying on the model driven development (MDD) and ontology paradigms, the paper proposes a method that uses business value models to elicit and structure business services from a consumer-centric quality perspective and transforming the business service model further to a web service model. To facilitate major MDD aspects, such as semantic-level descriptions and automated transformations, these models are designed as ontologies. A case study from the Swedish eye-care health sector is used to ground the presented method.