The Decision Tree is an RML systems model that visually shows complex logic, allowing you to analyze a series of decisions. Typically, it is significantly easier to validate the logic visually in a Decision Tree than it is to describe the logic in a list of statements and the visual nature of the tree helps to quickly identify missing elements or branches.

This model depicts ordered “if” statements, helping us simplify and/or clarify decision paths. Essentially, it’s is an in-depth analysis of a Process Flow or a System Flow. 

Occasionally, this model becomes too large or too complicated and a Decision Table can be a useful alternative.  

For more requirements templates, visit Requirements Modeling Language.

Learn more about requirements models in our book Visual Models for Software Requirements (Microsoft Press, 2012) Joy Beatty and Anthony Chen. (See Chapter 17 for Decision Trees)