Business rules

The term business rules is used to indicate relatively fast-changing decision logic in processes and services, as opposed to more static business logic. Business Rules Engines (BRE) or Business Rules Management Systems (BRMS) implement business rules in such a way that the logic can easily be changed at runtime by separating the “know” (Business Rule) from the “flow” (process), using a graphical user interface without the need of software development and redeployment of services.

Business rules contain decision logic that is important to business stakeholders. Let’s look at some examples of such logic:

• The order-to-cash process in which customers with platinum status get a 15 percent discount, while silver status customers get a 5 percent discount and other customers no discount. Over time, you might want to introduce gold status customers or change the discount percentages.

• A service InvoiceService that contains a rule that invoices under $10,000 can be processed in an automated...