UML Decision Management Profile for Design Rationale
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Solution Overview
Problem
Design engineers face challenges in capturing and documenting design decisions, such as questions asked, alternatives considered, and rationales for selection, which are often lost as designs evolve, leading to poor documentation and inhibited model reuse in Unified Modeling Language (UML) and software tools.
Innovation Solution
Extending UML with a meta-model that includes elements like question, decision, decider, rationale, and alternative, allowing for the definition and storage of decision-making processes, and their associated information, enabling better documentation and reuse through a profile that configures object-oriented modeling tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If UML and software tools are used for modeling, then model generation capability is improved, but decision documentation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the decision-making process into distinct UML elements: question elements, decision elements, decider elements, rationale elements, and alternative elements. Each element captures a specific aspect of decision documentation, allowing comprehensive tracking of design decisions while maintaining compatibility with standard UML tooling for model generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary meta-model that bridges standard UML capabilities and decision documentation requirements. This meta-model acts as a mediator layer that extends UML with decision-specific elements without disrupting existing model generation workflows, enabling both productivity and decision traceability.
2Loss of information
If SysML language is used with rationale element, then decision documentation is improved, but model review capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal decision documentation framework that works across multiple UML diagram types and tool platforms. The meta-model elements can be applied consistently throughout the model, enabling review capability while maintaining comprehensive decision documentation through standardized elements that function across different contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static rationale element of SysML into a dynamic multi-element structure with question, decision, decider, rationale, and alternative components. This parameter change in the documentation structure enables more comprehensive tracking while maintaining reviewability through consistent element relationships that can be queried and analyzed.
3Loss of information
If design decisions are captured in detail, then design understanding is improved, but documentation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary capture of decision elements at the point when design decisions are made during the modeling process. By integrating decision documentation into the active modeling workflow rather than requiring separate post-processing, the system captures design understanding information naturally without adding significant documentation complexity later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where decision elements are automatically linked to model elements and can be queried for review. This feedback loop allows designers to access decision information when needed without maintaining complex separate documentation, as the decision data is embedded within the model structure itself and can be retrieved through standard UML tool operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A profile for a tool implementing a unified modeling language (UML) is described. The profile extends the UML to include decision management functionality. The profile includes stereotypes and customizations which generate question elements, decision elements, alternative elements, and the like. The association between the elements permits a design engineer to review previous decisions and the rationale behind the decisions. In particular, the one of alternative elements is associated with decision element by selected alternative relationship.