As regular readers know, we have released the first version of our Decision Management Systems Platform Technology report. This report is available free for download from http://www.decisionmanagementsolutions.com/decision-management-technology. This version of the report focuses on four key areas (outlined in the webinar we gave recently and available in our archive here). It also discusses some of the characteristics of products that will help you be successful in developing Decision Management Systems. This section is going to be expanded in future versions of the report but some key characteristics are:
- Platform Completeness
A small number of vendors offer a complete platform for building Decision Management Systems. It is not necessary to buy a complete platform from a single vendor. It is valuable for products to see themselves as part of a broader ecosystem. For instance Business Rules Management Systems that are “aware” of predictive analytics and offer integration with such systems are more suitable for Decision Management Systems than more narrowly focused products. - Business User Engagement
The agility and adaptability of Decision Management Systems crucially relies on the engagement of business users. The extent to which products being used to build these systems can bring business users into the development team is therefore critical. Products that allow non-technical users to fully participate are more likely to be successful that those focused only on technical developers. - Architectural Flexibility
Decision Management Systems automate decisions that must often be used in multiple channels where these channels may be supported by different applications and architectural approaches. Decisions may need to be made as part of business processes, in response to events detected or in support of legacy environments. A degree of architectural flexibility is therefore very useful. - Decision Monitoring
Products used to develop Decision Management Systems offer much more value if they are able to support the ongoing monitoring and improvement of the decision-making embedded in those systems. Products that provide analysis and other tools that integrate with deployed systems are particularly useful in this regard.
You can download the report, and all future versions of it, for free at http://www.decisionmanagementsolutions.com/decision-management-technology
If you have comments, feedback or vendors to add please email me info@decisionmanagementsolutions.com
