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Decision Tables and Benefits

What is a decision table?

It's a diagrammatic representation, a 2-dimensional matrix that associate different conditions with the actions to perform against them. It's a four quadrant structure, structured in such a way that each decision corresponds to multiple condition alternatives. A condition alternative is nothing but a variable or a relation against a condition. Each action is an operation to be performed and the action entries specify the order (if required to be done) in which the action is to be done.

Following is the structure of a decision table
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| Conditions | Condition Alternatives |
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| Actions       | Action Entries              |
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Benefits of decision table

Decision tables are widely used to specify the working of complex system, or even write specification of systems which would be hard to understand than other structures. Decision tables are simple, structured and are designed to reduce ambiguity. Relation between decision and condition is specified quite clearly. They can be applied to real world problems and in fact they map nicely to business rules.

Business Rules and decision tables

Business rules are nothing but an abstraction of business policies and practices in an organization. A decision table becomes a visual tool to analyze, organize, and reduce the complexity of real-life business problems. It can really help in improving the quality of requirements making it less ambiguous and more readable.

A BRMS (Business Rule Management System) used to utilize decision table for the theoretical breakdown of decision models. They use decision table as a metaphor to define, execute, monitor and maintain the complexity of logic used in decision making in an organization. They are then used to understand and analyze the tactical decisions made in a system. It helps business owners and manager to have more control over the decision logic that has been implemented for better business management. It also helps in achieving a sort of decision automation, thus resulting in saving time and improving the efficiency of the process.

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