Common Context for Decisions and their Implementations

Abstract

Decisions are frequently sent to implementers without the context that guided them. It should not be a surprise, then, that results are not as expected. The lack of supplementary information and a common context produces wrongly implemented or lost decisions. This paper proposes a solution to this problem based on groupware technology. In particular, a combination of tools including shared workspaces, process modeling with workflow and a discussion tool, is proposed. A case is used to illustrate the problem and its solution.There has been much emphasis on improving the decision making process but little attention has been paid to a correct and effective transmission of the decision-makers' intention to support the implementation phase following a decision. The gap between the end of a decision making process and its implementation activities may, in fact, turn the decision inconsequent, due to lack of interaction and negotiation between decision makers and those who will implement the decision. Often, decisions that are implemented without the necessary clarification and negotiation may generate outcomes, which are different from those planned at the time of the decision. This paper addresses the causes for the gap that exists between decision makers and implementers around the complete understanding of a decision context and the form of implementation. It discusses why linking decision implementation activities to the corresponding decision meeting is essential to make the decision cycle fully successful. We claim that supporting the reach of a common context along the entire decision process with a computer system is both efficient and effective.

On Some Lessons from Modeling Contexts in Complex Problem Solving in Information Technology

“…We may note that the ability of the twodimensional approaches to model the context of a situation is limited to the chosen two dimensions only. According to Borges, Pino & Araujo (2006), it is rare that only one goal governs what people do and as most work on organizations is characterized by multiple goals. That is one of the major justifications for advocating here a multidimensional understanding of contexts developed through problem structuring methods.…”

Application of Automated Context-Based DSS for Determining CNC Machining Parameter

“…Many studies have been carried out on the contextual aspect and the context-awareness in knowledge-based systems. Those, however, are focusing on the fields of equipment purchasing [6], business process models [7], and so on. This study deals with the contextual aspect of a knowledgebased system specifically aimed at knowledge capturing system of a CNC operator, which is an important problem in practice, but has been rather neglected so far.…”

Alternative Dispute Resolution Based on the Storytelling Technique

“…We nevertheless regard argumentation models -and IBIS in particular -as artefacts which are difficult to master, especially by untrained users [6]. In our perspective, some additional support is necessary to effectively integrate argumentation models in ADR/ODR technology.…”