Rules-Based Interface Puts Control of Business Processes in Users' Hands; Application Developer Lisa Palermo of Cap Gemini America to Deliver Speech At OAUG.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

OAUG Spring Conference (Booths 619 & 621)

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2000

Rules-based interfaces simplify business processes by allowing users and non-technical personnel to modify business rules, thereby reducing interface development time and maintenance efforts. Cap Gemini America senior consultant, Lisa Palermo, developed an industry-first application for rules-based interfaces and will detail its methodology on April 26 at the Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG) conference.

Palermo conceptualized and built the interface while developing an Oracle-supported, customized student information system for San Diego State University to track student information. It occurred to her that the school would have to re-customize the interface every time business rules changed.

"In today's business environment, dynamic business rules are forcing companies to constantly modify their interfaces," said Palermo. "Maintaining these programs drains valuable company resources and ultimately affects the bottom line."

Her solution was to design a "rules-based engine," a stored procedure that utilizes rules tables, results tables and data tables. Programmed using PL*SQL, the engine reads business rules from a common spreadsheet format, such as Microsoft Excel. Whenever a rule changes, the user modifies the spreadsheet, eliminating the need for IT experts to alter the program. The user then runs the engine through an Oracle applications module that recognizes the new data and sends it to the Oracle server, which incorporates it into the program.

"The system's greatest advantage is that users obtain control of their business processes in order to keep pace with their active markets," Palermo says. "By empowering the user and freeing IT resources, companies benefit by saving time and money."

Palermo's paper is entitled "Empower Your Users with Rules-Based Interfaces." The technical presentation covers all aspects of the procedure including a general introduction of the system, an explanation of the design and interaction of Palermo's "rules-based engine," advanced techniques of interface design, and a case study.

Palermo's speech is currently scheduled for Wednesday, April 26 from 3:00 to 4:40 PM in Room 201 C.

About Lisa Palermo

As a senior consultant in Cap Gemini America's Enterprise Resource Planning service offering, Lisa Palermo's main responsibilities are implementing Oracle solutions for Fortune 500 clients. She is a technical expert and functionally efficient in Oracle applications, with extensive experience designing and implementing systems modules, particularly the human resources module. Before joining Cap Gemini America, Palermo worked at Oracle Corporation where she implemented the company's HR, payroll and financial modules. Before that, she worked with satellites and launch vehicle systems as an orbital analyst in the United States Air Force where she attained the rank of Captain.

About Cap Gemini America

Cap Gemini America, Inc. is an information technology and management consulting services leader with 4,500 employees at 35 locations in the United States and 1998 revenues of $623 million. Cap Gemini America offers full life-cycle services based on industry-specific expertise in the areas of applications management, enterprise resource planning, Enterprise Effectiveness(SM), customer relationship management, E-commerce and management consulting through its Gemini Consulting division. It is part of the $4.4 billion Cap Gemini Group-- a global leader and Europe's largest IT services and business consulting organization that was recently named "European Company of the Year" by the European Business Press Federation. Cap Gemini's 40,000 employees in 20 countries design and deliver strategic change through ideas, people, and technology. Visit Cap Gemini America on the Internet at www.usa.capgemini.com.