Using Tabulated Information

Abstract

Different tabulation formats for currency conversion tables wore examined. It was found that most formats could be used equally well to make conversions bi-directionally, i.e. from A to B and from 13 to A. A fully redundant table, one that required no additional arithmetic operations, could be used more quickly than a schematic table, and in schematic tables it was more important to have each of the major units given directly rather than each of the minor units. A matrix, although fully redundant, was much more difficult to use than the corresponding table of lists. Many subjects clearly did not understand the principles of matrix format. Measures of incidental learning suggested that practice at using a table resulted in only slight knowledge of the content of the table, even though much of each table could be generated from a single rule     

Integrated pricing and capacity decision for a telecommunication service provider

This paper studies a price and capacity decision for a telecommunications service provider that differentiates its products based on price and quality of service to maximize revenue. We assume the market is segmented into two customer classes. Time sensitive customers are willing to pay a price premium for a shorter service time, while price sensitive customers are willing to accept a longer service time in return for a lower price. The service provider offers products and services that differ only in their guaranteed service times and prices. We first develop a mathematical model to determine the optimal product price and optimal capacity necessary for maximizing total profit. We then consider a case where a service provider can marginally increase or decrease the capacity, and compute the optimal price and optimal capacity.     

Automating concept development by analogical reasoning for advanced decision aids

Compared with conventional knowledge-based decision aids, decision support systems for product concept design must support concept development at the initial stage of human decision making. To support such processes, we must implement both interactive support and automated concept development.

This paper is concerned with the latter, and proposes an automated concept development method using analogical reasoning. The features of the method are that it generates a new product similar to a given product with unique concepts and that it augments domain theory to expand the applicability of the new product.

To validate the performance of the proposed method, we have applied the method to an electric appliance domain. From our experiments, the method has developed not only well-known concepts but also some unique concepts which have not been produced.

Although the proposed method is very simple, it has a highly extensible architecture. Therefore, we conclude that the system can be used to support the initial stage of human decision making.     

Markov decision process in the problem of dynamic pricing policy

Markov decision processes (MDP) are widely used in problems whose solutions may be represented by a certain series of actions. A lot of papers demonstrate successful MDP use in model problems, robotic control problems, planning problems, etc. In addition, economic problems have the property of multistep motion towards a goal as well. This paper is dedicated to MDP application to the problem of pricing policy management. The problem of dynamic pricing is stated in terms of MDP. Additional attention is paid to the method of constructing an MDP model based on data mining. Based on the data on sales of an actual industrial plant, construction of an MDP model that includes the searching for and generalization of regularities is demonstrated.     

Impact of decision sequence of pricing and quality investment in decentralized assembly system

The quality and price of suppliers’ products directly influence the potential demand in the market. This paper studies the impact of decision sequence in a two-echelon assembly system with demand uncertainty: suppliers first decide wholesale price and quality investment for their components, and then the manufacturer decides product price after the uncertainty in demand is resolved. We consider three scenarios in the stage of suppliers’ decisions. In case 1, both suppliers simultaneously determine quality investment followed by the simultaneous setting of wholesale prices. In case 2, both suppliers make quality investment and wholesale price decisions simultaneously. In case 3, one supplier acts as a leader and moves first to announce quality investment and wholesale price, and the other supplier moves later. We compare all decision models from each firms’ perspective. Our analysis reveals that the second decision sequence is the best option for the manufacturer and the integrated supply chain and the first decision sequence is the best option for suppliers as a whole, but there is no clear dominating choice for each supplier. The optimal choices of suppliers are mainly determined by the cost structure. We examine and discuss the relation between system parameters and the incentives of suppliers in choosing decision sequence.     

The effect of positive mood on intention to use computerized decision aids

While psychology research has indicated that positive mood enhances cognition and behavior, MIS researchers have largely ignored such potential effects on user acceptance of new IT. Using two cognitive theories on mood and memory, positive mood theory and the affect infusion model (AIM), we developed hypotheses about the contribution of these mood conditions on user acceptance of new IT with two levels of uncertainty. These hypotheses were investigated via an experiment using a computerized decision making aid. We found that positive mood increased acceptance, under both levels of uncertainty. These results held for both induced and naturally occurring positive mood. The results were consistent with positive mood theory but not with the AIM.     

A methodological framework for systemic design and evaluation of computer aids for planning and decision support

This paper discusses methodological design and evaluation frameworks that appear to have general applicability. The design methodology has specific relevance for the design of systemic process aids to planning and decisionmaking and, potentially, to other system design efforts as well. A five-phase iterative methodology is suggested. The paper discusses objectives for systemic process aids, requirements to be accomplished in each of the five phases of the design methodology, and leadership requirement considerations as they affect the design of systemic process aids realized by use of the methodological design framework. A framework for evaluation of systemic aids is also presented. The resulting evaluation methodology may be incorporated into the design methodology or used independently to evaluate existing or proposed aids for planning, forecasting and decision support.     

Optimal pricing decision of composite service offered by network providers in E-commerce environment

Electronic Commerce Research - With the increasing demand of consumers for diversified network services, more and more network service providers are competing fiercely in providing network...     

Supporting trust calibration and the effective use of decision aids by presenting dynamic system confidence information

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether continually updated information about a system's confidence in its ability to perform assigned tasks improves operators' trust calibration in, and use of, an automated decision support system (DSS). BACKGROUND: The introduction of decision aids often leads to performance breakdowns that are related to automation bias and trust miscalibration. This can be explained, in part, by the fact that operators are informed about overall system reliability only, which makes it impossible for them to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to follow the system's advice. METHOD: The application for this research was a neural net-based decision aid that assists pilots with detecting and handling in-flight icing encounters. A multifactorial experiment was carried out with two groups of 15 instructor pilots each flying a series of 28 approaches in a motion-base simulator. One group was informed about the system's overall reliability only, whereas the other group received updated system confidence information. RESULTS: Pilots in the updated group experienced significantly fewer icing-related stalls and were more likely to reverse their initial response to an icing condition when it did not produce desired results. Their estimate of the system's accuracy was more accurate than that of the fixed group. CONCLUSION: The presentation of continually updated system confidence information can improve trust calibration and thus lead to better performance of the human-machine team. APPLICATION: The findings from this research can inform the design of decision support systems in a variety of event-driven high-tempo domains.     

Tying up loose ends: a method for constructing and evaluating decision aids that meet blunt and sharp-end goals

We present a methodological framework for constructing and evaluating decision aids – fast and frugal trees (FFTs) – ideally suited to the front line of an organisation. Their performance can be analysed in signal detection theory, allowing for transparent selection of FFTs given managerial-level trade-offs among type I and II errors. We extend FFTs from binary classification to selection from multiple actions (FFT multiple) as well as performance analysis to organisational goal states beyond type I and II error reduction. Concepts and framework are introduced and a tutorial-style example application (threat assessment at military checkpoints) is provided. Throughout, we discuss ways to deal with missing or incomplete data and show that the performance of decision aids may be overestimated if the effectiveness of actions is not heeded. The methodology can be used to construct and evaluate decision aids in any area characterised by dichotomised cues and a one-to-many mapping between categorisation outcomes and actions.     

Impact of automated decision aids on performance,operator behaviour and workload in a simulated supervisory control task

In studies reporting automation effects on overall system performance and on the operator, the methods used to measure workload often did not appropriately reflect the complexity of this construct. The present study addresses the impact of automation on operator workload and behaviour in process control fault management. Workload effects were assessed with subjective, cardiovascular and secondary task performance indicators. Interactions with the interface of the process control simulation directed at gathering information and controlling the system were recorded. Automation made operators more efficient, allowing faster fault management with less information sampling and control actions. Subjective workload ratings were significantly lower in the assisted conditions as compared to manual, which was not reflected in cardiovascular and secondary task measures. Participants' information sampling activity did not differ between medium and high level of automation. Results suggest that participants paid constantly high attention to their task even with highly automated support.     

Both-branch fuzzy decision and decision encryption-authentication

This paper is on fuzzy decision theory and information security theory which are mutually independent and engrafted. This paper presents both-branch fuzzy decision and problems on decision encryption-authentication, puts forward two kinds of both-branch fuzzy decision on X: both-branch fuzzy decision on X having bounded domains X = X ∩X- ={x0}, both-branch fuzzy decision on X havingoverlapping domains X* = X ∩X- = {x_1~*,x_2~*,…,x_1~*}. It presents single branch separate-separate out theoremof both-branch fuzzy decision on X, single branch superposition theorem of both-branch fuzzy decision, exclusive-decompose principle of both-branch fuzzy decision. This paper presents encryption-authentication theorem of decision by engrafting information security theory and technique with both-branch fuzzy decision, and provides encryption-decryption and signature-authentication of both-branch fuzzy decision.     

Logit network pricing

In this paper, we address a pricing problem defined over a transportation network, and where the underlying flow is assigned according to the logit model. This setting yields a nonlinear optimization problem that yet possesses strong combinatorial features. Taking advantage of the model's analytical properties, we characterize its first-order optimality conditions and introduce rules that simplify the network topology, while leaving the structure of optimal solutions unchanged. Based on these results, a class of unimodal instances is identified. Finally, the connection with the more classical problem known as ‘product line pricing’ in economics is emphasized.     

Computer aids for reliability

Hydraulic structures are coming up fast in India to meet the growing needs of irrigation, power for modern development, and multi-story buildings for a growing population. These structures are being located in the Himalayas and new techniques are being increasingly used in construction. The geological features of the weak rocks in the Himalayas present special problems for the foundations in housing, roads, irrigation structures etc. including tunnels. Additional instruments were fabricated together with new techniques and computer aids, affording reliability in the construction works in these regions. Equipment costs were controlled by current modern methods, new techniques of graphical coordination of Plant usage were carried out and close coordination was affected in speeding up the construction. The use of interactive graphics for simulating construction by computer aids was adopted.