Data Mining in Decision Support for Bioenergy Production

2010 ◽

pp. 235-253

Author(s):

Nasser Ayoub ◽

Yuji Naka

Keyword(s):

Data Mining ◽

Decision Making ◽

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support Tool ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Support Tool ◽

Bioenergy Production ◽

Decision Making Problem ◽

Biomass Resources

This chapter presents Data Mining, DM, as a planning and decision support tool for biomass resources management to produce bioenergy. Furthermore, the decision making problem for bioenergy production is defined. A Decision Support System, DSS that utilizes a DM technique, e.g. clustering, integrated with other group of techniques and tools, such as Genetic Algorithms, GA, Life Cycle Assessment, Geographical Information System, GIS, etc, is presented. A case study that shows how to tackle the decision making problem is also shown.

Download Full-text

A decision support tool to mitigate decision-making problems faced by a building design team

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment ◽

10.1108/sasbe-06-2016-0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 2-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Natee Singhaputtangkul

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support Tool ◽

Building Design ◽

Building Envelope ◽

Design Team ◽

Framework Analysis ◽

Content Type ◽

Support Tool

Purpose There are a number of decision-making problems encountered by a building design team. This issue is apparent in assessment of building envelope materials and designs in the early design stage. The purpose of this paper is to develope a decision support tool based on a quality function deployment (QFD) approach integrated with a knowledge management system (KMS) and fuzzy theory to facilitate a building design team to simultaneously mitigate the decision-making problems when assessing the building envelope materials and designs for the first instance. Design/methodology/approach This study engaged a design team comprising three decision makers (DMs) to test the developed decision support tool through a case study of a representative building project. The study employed deductive qualitative data analysis with use of a framework analysis approach to analyze perspectives of the DMs after completing the case study through a semi-structured interview. Findings A mapping diagram derived qualitatively from the framework analysis suggested that the tool can help mitigate the identified decision-making problems as a whole. Originality/value Practical contributions of using the decision support tool include achievement of a more efficient design and construction management, and higher productivity of a project. In terms of academic contributions, this study expands capabilities of a conventional decision support system, KMS, and QFD tool to handle decision-making problems.

Download Full-text

Relevance lost: the rise and fall of activity-based costing

Human Systems Management ◽

10.3233/hsm-2005-24202 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 133-144

Author(s):

Nitza Geri ◽

Boaz Ronen

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

Decision Making ◽

Decision Support ◽

Value Creation ◽

Financial Services ◽

Decision Support Tool ◽

Activity Based Costing ◽

Support Tool

In the debate between marginal decision-making and full absorbance that has been going on since the nineteenth century, activity-based costing/management (ABC/M) appeared as a promising decision support tool which answers the criticism leveled against traditional cost accounting. This paper describes the strengths and weaknesses of ABC/M from a global value creation perspective, in an effort to explain why it failed to live up to its promise and why not too many companies retained it beyond a short pilot period. The paper suggests the global decision-making methodology (GDM), as an effective alternative to costing methods, which improves the quality of decisions and enhances organization value. The paper illustrates its implementation by presenting a case study of a large international financial services organization that abandoned the ABC/M system it had been using for seven years in favor of GDM. The ABC/M system was transformed to a throughput focused “light ABC” system that supports GDM. The article describes the circumstances that led the organization to adopt GDM, and provides general guidelines for its implementation.

Download Full-text

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

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-021-00794-3 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

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

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2021_ajslp-21-00072 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

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

wt Werkstattstechnik online ◽

10.37544/1436-4980-2019-03-32 ◽

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.

Download Full-text