Semantics, Analysis and Simplification of DMN Decision Tables. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calvanese, Diego; Dumas, Marlon; Laurson, Ülari; Maggi, Fabrizio M.; Montali, Marco; Teinemaa, Irene
• Is Part Of: Information systems. Volume 78(2018)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Decision Table -- Decision Model -- Notation -- Sweep-Line; Database management -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Bases de données -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Informatique -- Périodiques; Database management; Electronic data processing; Periodicals; 005.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.is.2018.01.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4379

Abstract

Highlights: Formal semantics of decision tables defined in the Decision Model and Notation (DMN) General approach to analyze DMN decision tables based on a geometric interpretation thereof Algorithms for finding overlapping and missing rules in DMN decision tables Algorithm for simplifying a decision table by means of rule merging Abstract: The Decision Model and Notation (DMN) is a standard notation to capture decision logic in business applications. A central construct in DMN is that of a decision table. The increasing use of DMN decision tables to capture critical business knowledge raises the need to support analysis and refactoring tasks on these tables. This article puts forward a formal semantics for DMN decision tables and a formal definition of analysis tasks on such tables. The article then proposes a general approach to analyze and refactor decision tables based on a geometric interpretation thereof. This general approach is used to design efficient algorithms for two analysis tasks (detection of overlapping rules and of missing rules) and one refactoring task (simplification of tables via rule merging). The algorithms have been implemented in an open-source DMN editor and tested on large decision tables derived from a credit lending dataset.