Decision Problem Framing
"When you frame a decision problem correctly, you are
well on your way to achieving the desired outcome."
Decision-making begins with a higher authority's intention to accomplish a specific mission and allocating resources to make it a reality. However, mission descriptions are often high-level and informal, lacking the necessary clarity for leveraging human or machine intelligence in decision-making.
Decision problem framing transforms these high-level and informal mission descriptions into well-structured, rigorous, and detailed representations. These representations are easy to comprehend without ambiguity while also allowing for formal analysis and deliberation. Decision problem framing is a challenging task, but it can significantly enhance the decision-making process.
Did I frame it right?
A decision problem framing is considered suitable if and only if:
The formal representation directly or indirectly covers all mission requirements.
No requirements, either implicit or explicit, are beyond the scope of the mission.
All discrepancies among different stakeholders have been identified and resolved during the framing process.
The framing does not inherently contain conflicts that would make it impossible to achieve all stated goals within acceptable thresholds.
DAO Decision Problem Framer
Primitive automation support for decision problem framing involves capturing framing representation via a graphical user interface (GUI) and storing it in an information system for future reference. Most existing decision intelligence systems follow this approach and leave it up to the users to arrive at the correct framing.
DAO Decision Problem Framer is an intelligent software application that goes beyond basic automation. It assists in framing the decision problem using a value-focused approach by incorporating stakeholders' preferences when formulating decision problem goals. The software actively collaborates with the decision analysis project team, providing relevant analysis and guidance in a well-orchestrated adaptive process.
Decision problem framing often requires iteration, with the need to revisit and refine the problem definition as new information becomes available or gaps are identified during the analysis. Investing time upfront in correct framing yields significant dividends by reducing rework and, more importantly, mitigating risks associated with incorrect decisions.
Salient features of the DAO Decision Problem Framer include:
Measures Knowledge Base Builder
Objectives Hierarchy Builder & Analyzer
Stakeholders Preference Elicitor
Goals Builder & Feasibility Analyzer
Collaborative deliberation via interactive visualizations
Mission Requirements Coverage Analysis
With DAO Decision Problem Framer on your side, you will always start your decision-making project on a sound footing.