Towards assessing the theoretical complexity of the Decision Model and Notation (DMN)
Faruk Hasić, Johannes De Smedt, Jan Vanthienen · Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) · 2017
Motivated by the need for holistic decision modelling, the OMG consortium developed a new decision modelling standard, the Decision Model and Notation (DMN). DMN has two levels. Firstly, the decision requirement level depicts the requirements of decisions and the dependencies between elements involved in the decision. Secondly, the decision logic level presents ways to specify the underlying decision logic. DMN enables the separation of process and decision logic, thus enabling complexity reductions, flexibility, and maintainability of process models.Extensive research exists on the complexity of conceptual modelling methods such as UML, CMMN, and BPMN. However, the complexity of DMN has not yet been addressed in scientific literature. In this paper,we will assess the complexity of DMN and compare the outcome with the results obtained in previous studies for other modelling notations,such as BPMN and CMMN, hence emphasizing the broader picture of consistent integration of processes, cases, and decisions. Using BPMN,CMMN, and DMN alongside each other provides a holistic approach in business process management, as it enables the representation of both procedural and declarative processes, as well as a separate yet integrated representation of the underlying business logic.