SYS3160

Decision aids

P O'Donnell

6 points
* 4 hours per week
* First semester
* Caulfield
* Corequisites: SYS3001
* Prohibitions: SYS3124, SYS4160

Objectives At the completion of this subject, students will know a range of decision support environments requiring different development approaches and models. They will have learned a wide variety of techniques applicable to real life decision support situations and have an understanding of the role of analysis and design techniques in decision support system applications. They will have developed skills in applying suitable techniques for building a model-based decision support system prototype from a descriptive model, and have demonstrated a degree of competence appropriate for a specialist professional in the area of decision support.

Synopsis The subject investigates the development of model-based decision support systems and the role of these systems in supporting management decision-making. Topics to be covered include the following. Model-based decision support: applications, development process, architectures, the DDM paradigm. Information processing: models of human information processing, organisational information processing and decision making, perspectives on rationality, human information processing biases. Influence diagrams: their relationship to decision trees, decision analysis, expected values. Multi-criteria decision making. Systems dynamics: history, flow diagrams, levels and rates, applications.

Assessment Examination: 60%
* Practical work: 40%

Recommended texts
Goodwin P and Wright G Decision analysis for management judgement 2nd edn, Wiley, 1997
Rhodes P C Decision support systems: Theory and practice OUP, 1993
Sage A P Decision support systems engineering Wiley, 1991
Goodwin P and Wright G Decision analysis for management judgement 1991
Rhodes P C Decision support systems: Theory and practice OUP, 1993
Sage A P Decision support systems engineering Wiley, 1991