Decision Trees

Description:

"A decision diagram is a graphic representation of alternative decisions or actions that might be taken, plus potential outcomes resulting from those decisions and actions. Can be applied to binary decisions and multiple choice decisions." (Harris, 1999, p.130)

Other Decision Support formats:
Flow charts, graphs and charts, tables. Also referred to as decision diagrams, decision charts.

Strengths:

  • Allows user to see options and estimated outcomes before decisions are made
  • Helps the user find the optimal decision
  • Moderately helpful at forestalling tunnel vision
  • Supports conditional logic
  • Draws on spatial cognitive ability
  • Increases recall of decision model

Uses:

  • Decision making
  • Path analysis

Weaknesses:

  • Deskilling
  • "Garbage in - garbage out"
  • Heuristic based tools don't support naturalistic decision making

Links:

©2003 Roxanne O'Connell, all rights reserved • Modfied: Sunday, May 4, 2003 • Affinity Map - Site Map - Links - References