scholarly journals Humanitarian energy interventions: the need and opportunities for systematic decision-making

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Nixon ◽  
◽  
Rembrandt Koppelaar ◽  
Sandy Robinson ◽  
Heaven Crawley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Practical Action ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Briefing Paper ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Humanitarian Engineering

This briefing paper highlights the potential benefits of humanitarian decision-making tools through the application of a decision support tool developed as part of the EPSRC-funded Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement (HEED) project led by Coventry University in partnership with Practical Action and Scene Connect. HEED draws upon social science and engineering expertise to better understand energy needs and identify solutions which produce socio-technical systems that encourage community resilience and capacity building.

scholarly journals Video decision support tool promoting values conversations in advanced care planning in cancer: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Michael ◽  
Clare O’Callaghan ◽  
Ekavi Georgousopoulou ◽  
Adelaide Melia ◽  
Merlina Sulistio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advanced Directives ◽  
Support Tool

Abstract Background Views on advance care planning (ACP) has shifted from a focus solely on treatment decisions at the end-of-life and medically orientated advanced directives to encouraging conversations on personal values and life goals, patient-caregiver communication and decision making, and family preparation. This study will evaluate the potential utility of a video decision support tool (VDST) that models values-based ACP discussions between cancer patients and their nominated caregivers to enable patients and families to achieve shared-decisions when completing ACP’s. Methods This open-label, parallel-arm, phase II randomised control trial will recruit cancer patient-caregiver dyads across a large health network. Previously used written vignettes will be converted to video vignettes using the recommended methodology. Participants will be ≥18 years and be able to complete questionnaires. Dyads will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to a usual care (UC) or VDST group. The VDST group will watch a video of several patient-caregiver dyads communicating personal values across different cancer trajectory stages and will receive verbal and written ACP information. The UC group will receive verbal and written ACP information. Patient and caregiver data will be collected individually via an anonymous questionnaire developed for the study, pre and post the UC and VDST intervention. Our primary outcome will be ACP completion rates. Secondarily, we will compare patient-caregiver (i) attitudes towards ACP, (ii) congruence in communication, and (iii) preparation for decision-making. Conclusion We need to continue to explore innovative ways to engage cancer patients in ACP. This study will be the first VDST study to attempt to integrate values-based conversations into an ACP intervention. This pilot study’s findings will assist with further refinement of the VDST and planning for a future multisite study. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12620001035910. Registered 12 October 2020. Retrospectively registered.

Creation of a Community-Driven Decision Support Tool for Caregivers of Children With Developmental Concerns

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Magnusson ◽  
Irena Shwayder ◽  
Natalie J. Murphy ◽  
Lindsay Ollerenshaw ◽  
Michele Ebendick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Cultural Humility ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Key Aspects

Purpose Despite increasing standardization of developmental screening and referral processes, significant early intervention service disparities exist. The aims of this article are to: (a) describe methods used to develop a decision support tool for caregivers of children with developmental concerns, (b) summarize key aspects of the tool, and (c) share preliminary results regarding the tool's acceptability and usability among key stakeholders. Method Content and design of the decision support tool was guided by a systematic process outlined by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaborative. Three focus group interviews were conducted with caregivers ( n = 7), early childhood professionals ( n = 28), and a mix of caregivers and professionals ( N = 20) to assess caregiver decisional needs. In accordance with the IPDAS, a prototype of the decision support tool was iteratively cocreated by a subset of caregivers ( n = 7) and early child health professionals ( n = 5). Results The decision support tool leverages images and plain language text to guide caregivers and professionals along key steps of the early identification to service use pathway. Participants identified four themes central to shared decision making: trust, cultural humility and respect, strength-based conversations, and information-sharing. End-users found the tool to be acceptable and useful. Conclusions The decision support tool described offers an individualized approach for exploring beliefs about child development and developmental delay, considering service options within the context of the family's values, priorities, and preferences, and outlining next steps. Additional research regarding the tool's effectiveness in optimizing shared decision-making and reducing service use disparities is warranted.

Multivariable Automatisierungsentscheidungen*/Multivariate automation decisions – A tool for cost-benefit assessments as a basis for decision-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (03) ◽  
pp. 134-139
Author(s):  
P. Burggräf ◽  
J. Wagner ◽  
M. Dannapfel ◽  
K. Müller ◽  
B. Koke
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Cost And Benefit ◽  
Benefit Evaluation ◽  
Level Of Automation

Der wachsende Bedarf an Wandlungsfähigkeit führt zu einer höheren Frequenz in der Umplanung von Montagesystemen und erfordert eine kontinuierliche Überprüfung und Anpassung des Automatisierungsgrades. Um auch die komplexen Umgebungsbedingungen abzubilden, sollen nicht-monetäre Faktoren in den Entscheidungsprozess eingebunden werden. Um die Entscheidung zu unterstützen, stellt dieser Beitrag ein Tool zur Identifizierung und Bewertung von Automatisierungsszenarien mittels einer Nutzwert-Aufwand-Analyse vor.   The increasing need for adaptability in assembly leads to a higher planning frequency of the system and requires continuous checks and adaptations of the appropriate level of automation. To account for the complex environmental conditions, non-monetary factors are included in the decision-making process. This paper presents a decision support tool to identify and evaluate automation scenarios by means of cost and benefit evaluation.

scholarly journals Risk Informed Decision-Making Framework for Operating Reservoirs Under Flooding Conditions: Accounting for Uncertainty and Risk

10.29007/v979 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziad Shawwash ◽  
James H. Everett
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Reservoir Operations ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Impact Processes ◽  
Decision Making Framework

This paper presents the Risk Informed Decision-making Framework and software tool we developed that formally account for flood risk and uncertainty in reservoir operations. The framework and the software tool are intended for practical use by reservoir operations planners to manage flooding events. We present a robust and comprehensive approach that accounts for a multitude of flood risks and their impacts, and that enables its users to identify those alternative reservoir operating plans that formally adopt a state-of-the-art risk informed decision-making framework. Solidly grounded in and closely follows a well-structured planning process, the framework augments existing planning processes and information flows that incorporates specific techniques and methods from probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) and Multi-criteria Decision Analysis techniques (MCDA). Seven major hydropower companies and agencies in North America and Europe sponsored the development of the framework and the decision support tool. We present the results of a case study to illustrate the framework and the software system. We show that numerous advantages can be achieved using such tools over currently used approaches and that in the case of risky and high-impact processes, such as in the management of potentially high-consequence facilities such as storage reservoirs, management by a human operator is essential.

Predictive data analytics for contract renewals: a decision support tool for managerial decision-making

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serhat Simsek ◽  
Abdullah Albizri ◽  
Marina Johnson ◽  
Tyler Custis ◽  
Stephan Weikert
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Managerial Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool

PurposePredictive analytics and artificial intelligence are perceived as significant drivers to improve organizational performance and managerial decision-making. Hiring employees and contract renewals are instances of managerial decision-making problems that can incur high financial costs and long-term impacts on organizational performance. The primary goal of this study is to identify the Major League Baseball (MLB) free agents who are likely to receive a contract.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the design science research paradigm and the cognitive analytics management (CAM) theory to develop the research framework. A dataset on MLB's free agents between 2013 and 2017 was collected. A decision support tool was built using artificial neural networks.FindingsThere are clear links between a player's statistical performance and the decision of the player to sign a new offered contract. “Age,” “Wins above Replacement” and “the team on which a player last played” are the most significant factors in determining if a player signs a new contract.Originality/valueThis paper applied analytical modeling to personnel decision-making using the design science paradigm and guided by CAM as the kernel theory. The study employed machine learning techniques, producing a model that predicts the probability of free agents signing a new contract. Also, a web-based tool was developed to help decision-makers in baseball front offices so they can determine which available free agents to offer contracts.

scholarly journals Towards Designing Tools for Universities’ R&D Performance Measurement on Mobile Platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Mohd Faizal Omar ◽  
Siti Rasifah Ahmad Roshidi ◽  
Jastini Mohd. Jamil ◽  
Fazillah Mohmad Kamal ◽  
Mohd Nasrun Mohd Nawi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Mobile Platform ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Prototype Development ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

<p class="Abstract">At the moment, there is a great interest in most universities to achieve higher ranking for better international standings and visibility. With shrinking resources such as financial and infrastructures, there is also a huge demand for the university to move forward and perform better in Research and Development (R&amp;D) in each evaluation year. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is an excellent tool to enculturate research in a Higher Education Institution (HEI). The culture must be built upon HEI’s strength and weaknesses. Hence, the right decision making tool must be develop to priorities different agendas such as QSWUR, THE, etc. Mobile platform provide an efficient way to engage with stakeholders particularly to measure HEI performance on R&amp;D. There are three main activities involves for developing a decision support tool for measuring R&amp;D impact in HEIs i.e. development of decision model using multi criteria decision making, dashboard prototype development including and UI/UX for mobile platform. This paper describe the importance of measuring the impact of R&amp;D, prioritization technique and the process of prototype development. It is anticipates that our work could mitigate the gaps and improve the research ecosystem in HEIs.</p>

scholarly journals New approach to decision making by multiple criteria analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 01002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Vanicek ◽  
Jana Kucerova
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Multiple Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Decision Processes ◽  
Multiple Criteria ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Multiple Criteria Evaluation

Many decision processes in technical and economical sciences require multiple criteria decision making. The most widely applied methods for multiple criteria evaluation of alternatives are based on the evaluation of alternatives in terms of an additive preference function. All of them require the estimation of weights of usually conflicting criteria. There are several methods how to find the weights of the criteria and how to find the evaluation of each solution in each criterion. The decision process based on simple weighted sum of values may not be the best approach in all situations. This paper contains a new approach of the evaluation of measured value set by different mathematical operators than the usually used multiple criteria evaluation methods. The approach was applied in a case study for multiple criteria evaluation. Generally, this new decision-support tool can help in various situations where different types of effects caused by a construction or reconstruction can occur. This is a very frequent situation in dealing with building defects, too.

scholarly journals Introduction to Multi-Agent Simulation

2011 ◽  
pp. 554-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peer-Olaf Siebers ◽  
Uwe Aickelin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Target System ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Agent Simulation ◽  
System States ◽  
Changes Over Time

When designing systems that are complex, dynamic, and stochastic in nature, simulation is generally recognised as one of the best design support technologies, and a valuable aid in the strategic and tactical decision- making process. A simulation model consists of a set of rules that define how a system changes over time, given its current state. Unlike analytical models, a simulation model is not solved but is run and the changes of system states can be observed at any point in time. This provides an insight into system dynamics rather than just predicting the output of a system based on specific inputs. Simulation is not a decision making tool but a decision support tool, allowing better informed decisions to be made. Due to the complexity of the real world, a simulation model can only be an approximation of the target system. The essence of the art of simulation modelling is abstraction and simplification. Only those characteristics that are important for the study and analysis of the target system should be included in the simulation model.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document