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[okmds-convene] Definition of Decision Support

To: Ontology in Kowledge Management & Decision Support <okmds-convene@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Ken Baclawski <kenb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:16:16 -0500 (EST)
Message-id: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0801010010490.11603@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Welcome to the New Year!  I propose that the first "resolution" for the 
OKMDS community this year should be to examine the definition of decision 
support.    (01)

It is easy enough to define "decision support system" to be a 
computer-based information system that supports decision making 
activities.  However, this says very little, since so many activities are 
related to decisions in some way.  As a result, decision support is a very 
broad concept, and there are many different kinds of system that are 
considered to be decision support systems. This may partly be due to the 
fact that decision making is a process.  A particular decision support 
system will usually be designed for and have an impact on only a few parts 
of the decision making process.  The decision making process has at least 
the following parts:    (02)

1. Acquire relevant background knowledge.  This could include other
    decisions.    (03)

2. Identify the alternatives from which a choice must be made.    (04)

3. Determine the criteria that should be used to distinguish the
    alternatives from one another (typically in the form of a value or
    utility for each alternative).    (05)

4. Select the best alternative.    (06)

Both knowledge management and ontologies can play a role in each of these 
parts.  They can also play a role in managing the process, such as:    (07)

1. Manage the process workflow in structured decision making processes.    (08)

2. Provide a collaboration environment for decision making.    (09)

3. Manage the documents associated with the process.    (010)

I suggest that this framework could be the starting point for a more 
in-depth discussion of decision support.    (011)

Kenneth Baclawski
College of Computer and Information Science
Northeastern University    (012)

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