Modeling Data in the Organization

A logical representation of the data for an organization or for a business area, using entities for categories of data and relationships for associations between entities.

A graphical representation of an entity-relationship model.

A statement that defines or constraints some aspect of the business. It is intended to assert business structure or to control or influence the behavior of the business.

A business rule is a statement of policy, not how policy is enforced or conducted; the rule does not describe a process or implementation, but rather describes what a process validates.

With the related organization, the rule must have only one interpretation among all interested people, and its meaning must be clear.

A business rule marks one statement, not several; no part of the rule can stand on its own as a rule (that is, the rule is indivisible, yet sufficient).

A business rule must not contain conflicting statements and must not contradict other rules.

A business rule must be able to be stated in natural language, but it will be stated in a structured natural language so that there is no misinterpretation.

Business rules are not redundant, but a business rule may refer to other rules (especially to definitions).

A business rule is stated in terms business people can understand, and because it is a statement of business policy, only business people can modify or invalidate a rule; thus, a business rule is owned by the business.