Comments on: Can Decision Systems Help Us Make Better Decisions? http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/ Economics. Data. Software. Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:46:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Dave Dixon http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Dave Dixon Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:19:27 +0000 http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/#comment-109 I blogged further on the discussion at <a href="http://blog.provisdom.com/?p=18" rel="nofollow">http://blog.provisdom.com/?p=18</a>. I blogged further on the discussion at http://blog.provisdom.com/?p=18.

]]> By: Data. Knowledge. Wisdom. » Blog Archive » Can Decision Systems Help Us Make Better Decisions? http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Data. Knowledge. Wisdom. » Blog Archive » Can Decision Systems Help Us Make Better Decisions? Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:11:55 +0000 http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/#comment-107 [...] at the Decision Strategist blog made an interesting post asking the question “Can Decision Systems Help Us Make Better Decisions?&#822.... Nick discussed several points, mostly centered around the idea that machines are relatively poor [...] [...] at the Decision Strategist blog made an interesting post asking the question “Can Decision Systems Help Us Make Better Decisions?&#822…. Nick discussed several points, mostly centered around the idea that machines are relatively poor [...]

]]> By: James Taylor http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/comment-page-1/#comment-100 James Taylor Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:50:42 +0000 http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/#comment-100 I blogged a response over on <a href="http://www.ebizq.net/blogs/decision_management/2007/10/yes_decision_systems_can_impro.php" rel="nofollow">my ebizQ blog</a> that I hope you will enjoy. JT I blogged a response over on my ebizQ blog that I hope you will enjoy.
JT

]]> By: Dave Dixon http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Dave Dixon Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:51:10 +0000 http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/#comment-97 I don't think you ever should have to override the decision system. If the model strategy does not agree with your gut, you should find out why. Sometimes the model info is wrong, sometimes your get is wrong, and most often both need some adjustment. That's why transparency is so important (several posts on this topic at our blog). If you can't see what info goes in the model and understand how it impacts the decisions, you can never trust the model results. If you (and other employees) can see the information as well as test how changes to that information change the strategy, buy-in is much easier to achieve. We had a situation like this recently. Employees of a client were asked to rate the chances of success of a project. Significant time was wasted quibbling over percentage points. We were able to use a model of the project strategy to show that everybody's input was essentially the same, in that it didn't change the strategy. Emphasis was effectively shifted from personal goals ("I want to be right") to the common goal of the company ("Do project strategy which maximizes shareholder value"). I don’t think you ever should have to override the decision system. If the model strategy does not agree with your gut, you should find out why. Sometimes the model info is wrong, sometimes your get is wrong, and most often both need some adjustment.

That’s why transparency is so important (several posts on this topic at our blog). If you can’t see what info goes in the model and understand how it impacts the decisions, you can never trust the model results. If you (and other employees) can see the information as well as test how changes to that information change the strategy, buy-in is much easier to achieve.

We had a situation like this recently. Employees of a client were asked to rate the chances of success of a project. Significant time was wasted quibbling over percentage points. We were able to use a model of the project strategy to show that everybody’s input was essentially the same, in that it didn’t change the strategy. Emphasis was effectively shifted from personal goals (“I want to be right”) to the common goal of the company (“Do project strategy which maximizes shareholder value”).

]]> By: zot http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/comment-page-1/#comment-96 zot Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:35:46 +0000 http://blog.potterzot.com/2007/10/05/can-decision-systems-help-us-make-better-decisions/#comment-96 <p>Yes! I've had some ideas along these lines. The social aspect of decision making is very interesting. The other aspect from the employees point of view is how do i know that management is going to fairly represent my input? I know that I would be tempted to override what the decision system says if my gut feeling says differently. This could create problems with buy in from employees.</p> <p>In fact, this happened at work last week. We voted on carpet color, and picked one that most upper management didn't like. They went with the popular choice, but they were stuck with a choice that they feel is not as good as it could be.</p> Yes! I’ve had some ideas along these lines. The social aspect of decision making is very interesting. The other aspect from the employees point of view is how do i know that management is going to fairly represent my input? I know that I would be tempted to override what the decision system says if my gut feeling says differently. This could create problems with buy in from employees.

In fact, this happened at work last week. We voted on carpet color, and picked one that most upper management didn’t like. They went with the popular choice, but they were stuck with a choice that they feel is not as good as it could be.

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