A meta-model for business rules in systems analysis

Abstract

Commonly used methodologies for systems analysis are data- or function-oriented and are sufficient for information systems which will be implemented on passive database management systems (DBMS). In the last years, several research prototypes of active DBMS and active mechanisms in commercially available DBMS have been developed. To fully use the potential of these rule-based mechanisms, a rule-based systems analysis methodology seems necessary. This paper defines and structures business rules as a main component of such a methodology and presents a meta-model for business rules; furthermore, an outlook on the implementation of the meta-model in a repository system is given.