The complete version of the Business Rules Manifesto was launched in November 2003 at the Business Rules Forum Conference, Nashville, TN.  The Manifesto is a 2002-2003 work product of the Business Rules Group (BRG), the highly respected industry body originally organized in 1989 to develop business rule standards.  A preliminary version of the Manifesto was presented to members of the BRCommunity in early 2003.

In addition to the BRCommunity, the Manifesto was distributed with a general request for feedback at a number of select industry meetings and conferences during 2003, including:  the OMG Business Rules SIG, DAMA International Symposium and Meta-Data Conference, IEEE Policy Conference, and European Business Rules Conference.  The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and many suggestions for improvement and enhancement have been forthcoming.

The result is the complete version (2.0) now released.  We say "complete" (rather than "final") because the BRG feels it has achieved a thorough and precise statement of business rule principles.  However, in the spirit of 'never say never,' it is clearly possible that the Manifesto may be gradually enhanced -- or more likely extended -- as knowledge and practical experience grows during the coming years.

The Manifesto is a powerful vehicle for communicating the essence of the business rule message in all its particulars.  See for yourself -- the Manifesto is short (just two pages long) so a quick reading won't take you long at all.

The logic of the Manifesto is compelling, and its impact is the kind that sticks.  Pass it on to your colleagues, especially on the business side of the house.  The time for setting a new course for the business is clearly now.

References

Business Rules Group, Business Rules Manifesto -- the Principles of Rule Independence, Ver. 2.0 (Nov. 2003), URL:  http://www.BusinessRulesGroup.org/BRManifesto.htm

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