Rule Modeling

In the analysis and design of information systems, we are frequently required to specify information system functions that evaluate complex combinations of conditions and perform appropriate actions. The specification of these functions depends on the logic of the problem that is under consideration. Since the functions are implemented by processes, the task of specifying these functions is by some authors [GANE78] called the specification of process logic. The task requires special treatment because there are a variety of problems that need to be considered. Some application problems need to perform a large number of actions, while others may perform only a few. On the other hand, there are applications that require evaluating many combinations of conditions to determine which of the actions are to be performed, while only a few combinations are possible in other applications. Therefore, we need different tools to solve different problems. Some of the most widely used tools will be studied in this chapter. These tools are commonly called structured tools, i.e., structured English, decision trees, and decision tables.