A Rule-Based Approach to the Implementation of Business Processes in Normalized Systems

摘要

The theory of Normalized Systems addresses the problem of developing information systems that can evolve over time, by guaranteeing that each new feature can be implemented with a limited number of changes that does not depend on the actual size of the system. The theory is supported by a software architecture that includes a set of five distinct elements to implement the application logic. One of those elements is the workflow element, which represents a sequence of actions and can be used to implement process behavior based on state machines. In this work, we propose a different approach to the implementation of process behavior in Normalized Systems. Specifically, the approach is based on the use of rules and events as fine-grained elements to build complex behavior. Our previous experience in the retail industry suggests that such approach is capable of dealing with the increasing complexity of business processes in that sector. We also discuss some details regarding the implementation of this new architecture on top of a popular technological platform and its supporting tools.