Rapid Prototyping of Business Rules to Demonstrate Inconsistencies Using Semantic Web Software

This paper presents a rapid throwaway prototyping technique using Semantic Web technologies that product owners can use to gain valuable insight by quickly experiencing demonstrations of inconsistencies so that the functions present in the resulting end system can be tested. The product owner or client can then determine whether this behaviour matches their expectations. An inconsistency is triggered by a collection of data that violate a rule defined by the developer, indicating that some of the data must be removed. The technique quickly demonstrates how the application of a given logical inconsistency determines system behaviour. Developers can use this to demonstrate the effect of inconsistencies, allowing them to determine whether the inconsistency triggers an interaction with the end user so that the user can be informed. This rapid prototyping technique contributes to the existing body of literature on the Semantic Web. It can also be implemented together with existing software development methodologies to produce systems that better match the expectations of stakeholders. The rapid prototyping technique is applied in use cases to evaluate its effectives in demonstrating inconsistencies.