Structured Analysis Representations as Production Systems: An Interpretation and its Implications

Much of transaction processing involves classification, that is, the categorization ofinputs into outputs based on various tests. In Artificial Intelligence (Al), classificationsystems are generally represented in terms of AND/OR graphs. Such graphs arecollections of production rules that capture declaratively the logic of an applicationdomain. If one views a transaction processing system as a classification system, itbecomes natural to represent it in terms of an AND/OR graph. In this paper, wepresent an interpretation of dataflow diagrams used in Structured Analysis asAND/OR graphs. By examining the dataflow diagrams, production rules capturingapplication-specific knowledge can be constructed. This interpretation has twoimplications: 1) production rules can be used to unify analysis and design since thesame data structure (the rule) is used for both purposes, and 2) the resulting designcan be simulated for purposes of explanation and what-if analysis. We also discusssome of the general pros and cons of production systems as they pertain to systemsanalysis and design.