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Book Review: Decision Management Systems

A Practical Guide to Using Business Rules and Predictive Analytics
By Tad Anderson
Article Rating:
March 9, 2012 04:30 AM EST
Reads:
 3,531
There are not too many systems being created today that I would consider more than interfaces to a data structure. Meaning most systems today rely on people to provide the intelligence behind them. The systems themselves are viewed as a necessary evil by the people who use them. I find this to be especially true in organizations with a long history. Their attitude is they were built by people, and people will continue to be their most valuable asset.

The author of this book challenges us to take our systems to the new level of existence. One where they are responsive partners in the company along with the people who use them. Responding in real-time to customers and users of the system. Decision Management Systems are intended to be active participants in optimizing your business.

The decisions focused on in the book are strategic, tactical, and operational. The decisions characteristics are they should be repeatable, non-trivial, measurable business impact, and a candidate for automation.

One of the things I really like about this book is that the author does a great job of providing real-world easy to understand examples that show you how the theory being explained can be applied.

The first part of the book builds the case for decision management systems. The second part of the book covers building decision management systems, and the last part of the book discusses the enablers for decision management systems.

Part one shows us what type of impact decision management systems can have on our businesses, and the characteristics of decision management systems. It gives a ton of real-world examples.

Part two covers discovering and modeling decisions, designing and implementing decision services, and monitoring and improving decisions.

Part three cover the different decision management system enablers which includes people, process, and technology enablers. One of the things I liked in this section is the author introduced the Agile Business Rule Development (ABRD). The ABRD is a practice to implement business application using business rule management system and rule engine technology.

Another thing I really liked is that the author has an awesome web site that provides additional material. It includes some nice white papers and webinars. Check out the material their for a preview of what you'll find in the book.

The author's writing style makes these a really easy cover to cover read. The book is very practical and realistic. It is the way systems should be thought about.

Over all if you are in IT, I highly recommend reading this book.
Decision Management Systems: A Practical Guide to Using Business Rules and Predictive Analytics

Published March 9, 2012 – Reads 3,531
Copyright © 2012 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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Tad Anderson has been doing Software Architecture for 16 years and Enterprise Architecture for the past few.