
BRF+ requires creative problem solving
Applying the Business Rule Framework to solve complex problems are not easy to achieve. The tool allows rapid application development, turning configuration into code by the press of a single button. Setting up the data objects, functions, rulesets, rules and expressions can be a frustrating process. Therefore you need to imagine that several iterations are required before you have a working prototype. Often we have to start over and avoid mistakes in previous versions that lead to a dead end. Eventually, you will conquer the challenge. Just takes persistence and a good dose of creativity.
You might convince yourself that you are not creative. Seeing complicated BRF+ functions for the first time could be daunting. You probably believe you never can master that level in BRF+. However, practice is what you need. Add the hours trying to get to a working prototype. It is like any new skill where theory can be tested using multiple-choice examination, but practice makes perfect.
Creative problem solving is essential, and you can teach yourself this skill. All famous inventors like Da Vinci and Edison mastered this skill. If they can, you can as well. They focused on the problem and found all the ways possible to solve it.
The process starts by asking “the five whys”, ideal for verifying the business requirement. You need to discover the REAL problem, often not the one initially identified.
Continue with asking challenging questions with each question highlighting a single issue. Try to solve each problem one-by-one. You discover each item refers to a BRF+ object, like an expression or rule. Make sure you try to address each issue in various ways, as there always are multiple ways to reach the end goal.
Link all questions and see how they fit to answer all of them at the same time. You understand that this will become a set of BRF+ functions that are related.
Continue with the simulation of the functions and verify if all scenarios pass the tests. Organise a meeting to let everyone challenge your solution to see if it requires fine-tuning.
Forget about “first time right”. Keep an eye on making progress and eventually delivery a solution that handles all complex decision making. It often requires several cycles of trial and error. Stay on the journey and take any criticisms as input to make the final deliverable foolproof. As soon as you reach that point, deploying this solution will be fast from then on.
Want to read more about creative problem-solving? Then read this articles:
- Problem Solving Process: https://innovationmanagement.se/imtool-articles/the-basics-of-creative-problem-solving-cps/.
- The five whys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_whys.