Decision Model and Notation, or DMN, is a novel way to model business decisions. DMN allows the capture and modeling of business decisions in a way that is easy to understand for business people and subject matter experts. It is a combination of the following:

  1. Decision Requirement Diagram – DRD
  2. Decision Table
  3. Boxed Expressions
  4. Friendly Enough Expression Language (FEEL)

Decision Requirement Diagram (DRD)

This is a graphical model that allows modeling dependencies between input data, decision, business knowledge and knowledge sources.

Decision Model and Notation - DRD sample

In DRD, the arrows show the dependencies between different nodes in the model. To put it in a simple way, you can read it as if the output result of some nodes will be passed as the input of the other nodes.

In the table below, all of the elements on a DRD model are illustrated:

ElementNotationDescription
DecisionDecision Model and Notation - Dmn decisionThe act of determining an output from a number of inputs, using decision logic which may reference one or more business knowledge models.
BusinessKnowledge ModelDecision Model and Notation - Dmn business knowledge modelA function encapsulating business knowledge in the form of business rules, decision table or analytic model. Some of the tools may not support this element. In such cases the decision logic is directly linked to the Decision rather than the business knowledge model.
KnowledgeSourceDecision Model and Notation - Dmn knowledge sourceThe authority for a business knowledge model or decision.
Input DataDecision Model and Notation - Dmn input dataInformation used as an input by one or more decisions. It also denotes the parameters of a Business Knowledge Model.
Information RequirementDmn information requiredInformation – input data or decision output – required for a decision.
Knowledge RequirementDmn knowledge requiredThe invocation of a business knowledge model.
Authority RequirementDmn authority requiredShowing the knowledge source of an element or the dependency of a knowledge source on input data.

Decision Table

In Decision Model and Notation, the Decision Table is a tabular form that models rules based on conditions and actions which are also called inputs and outputs. Decision Table is the default type of modeling business rules in DMN. But if your tools support other ways to model business rules then you can freely use them alongside decision table.

Decision Model and Notation - decision table

Learn more – How to use Decision Table in modeling business rules.

Boxed Expressions

Decision Model and Notation (DMN) is a simple two column table and an effective way to model business formulas, calculations, values and expressions. Then you can share these across multiple decisions and logic.
Decision Model and Notation - Boxed Expressions

Boxed expressions simply allows modeling: constant, values, invocation, formulas, etc. Boxed expressions allows you to put together building blocks of logic (i.e. decision table, natural language, flow, etc.) and enables you to reuse these over and over again.

Friendly Enough Expression Language

In Decision Model and Notation, FEEL is an expression language for business people. FEEL defines a syntax for expressing conditions, actions and formulae. FEEL is like using Excel formulas in that it allows you formulate your thinking about a domain in a context. FEEL is designed for ease of use by business people and subject matter experts.

Advantages

There are benefits to using Decision Model and Notation over the traditional business rules approach. In the business rules approach, very soon you start thinking about the logical implementation of the actual rules. But the DMN approach provides a higher-level abstracted layer that allows you to see the big picture first rather than diving deep into implementation and potentially losing the context and oversight of the solution.

This change of approach:

  1. Allows scaling of business rules in a more manageable, reusable visual approach across applications and processes.
  2. Allows better communication between the business, domain experts and IT by enabling a more productive involvement of business people and subject matter experts.
  3. Allows clearly defined decision boundaries and exposes the decision as a service with a click!

If your tool supports simulation and execution, error checking at design time and runtime with debugging capability, then you will not overlook anything by using a business rules approach, but you will also have a better way to reuse and scale your business rules in a systematic way.

Read More

  1. Natural Language Business Rules Modeling in DMN
  2. Assessing Borrowing Capacity Using Decision Automation
  3. Why Automate Insurance Pricing Model?
  4. Insurance Premium Calculation
  5. Import DMN models – XML 1.1
  6. Boxed Expressions – DMN
  7. Decision Model and Notation – DMN
  8. Reusable DRD or Sub DRD in Decision Model and Notation (DMN)
  9. Decision model and Notation – Policy Example
  10. Reuse Business Decision as a Function

Last updated September 22nd, 2020 at 11:29 am, Published June 11th, 2016 at 11:29 am