What is the difference between business process and business rule?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Process** — sequence of activities. **Rule** — constraint or policy.

**Business Process:**
- Series of activities to achieve goal.
- Has start and end points.
- Can span multiple departments.
- Defines how work flows.

```
Process: Order Fulfillment
1. Receive order
2. Check inventory
3. Process payment
4. Ship product
5. Send confirmation
```

**Business Rule:**
- Constraint or policy.
- Defines what is allowed.
- Can be automated.
- Often conditional.

```
Rules:
- Orders over $100 get free shipping
- Customers must be 18+
- Payment before shipping
```

**Key differences:**
- **Process** — activities, how work flows.
- **Rule** — constraints, what is allowed.

Business Analyst: What is the difference between business process and business rule?