Methods and systems are disclosed for determining whether circular dependency exists in a plurality of dependency rules. The method includes generating for at least some of the plurality of dependency rules a plurality of exclusion lists. Each exclusion list is associated with at least one independent object of a dependency rule and lists as an item a dependent object of the dependency rule. Where an item listed in at least one of the generated exclusion lists corresponds to an independent object having its own exclusion list with at least one item, the at least one item is incorporated into the generated exclusion list. Where at least one of the generated exclusion lists for an independent object includes an item corresponding to the independent object, circular dependency is found. If not, and if all of the dependency rules have been read, circular dependency is not found.