System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform

• US 6,876,991 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Collaborative Decision Platforms, LLC
• Inventors: Owen, Daniel L., Kusnic, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/708,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 706 45- 47
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are afforded for providing a collaborative decision platform adapted to run on a computer. Initially, an application capable of performing decision logic is executed. Information is then retrieved from a database in accordance with the decision logic. Information is also received from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface. The information is then processed utilizing the decision logic. In use, the foregoing steps are carried out by a collaborative decision platform capable of retrieving and receiving the information, and processing such information for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic.

Claims

1. A method for providing a collaborative decision platform adapted to run on a computer, comprising:

(a) executing an application capable of performing decision logic;

(b) retrieving information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

(c) receiving information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

(d) processing the information utilizing the decision logic;

(e) collecting data, wherein the data includes (i) policies that form boundary conditions associated with the decision logic, (ii) strategic decisions to be made, (iii) values that are important to the user, (iv) uncertainties that impact the values, and a relationship between (i)-(iv);

(f) creating a strategy table using the data;

(g) assessing the uncertainties for analysis purposes; and

(h) generating a tornado diagram and decision sensitivity output displays;

(i) wherein (a)-(d) are carried out by a collaborative decision platform capable of accomplishing (b)-(d) for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic;

(j) wherein the decision logic provides a hybrid strategy;

(k) wherein an application interface provides an interface between the application and the collaborative decision platform, where (b)-(d) are carried out using universal modules capable of interfacing with different applications adapted for applying the universal modules to different business sectors;

(l) wherein the collaborative decision platform communicates with the application through a standard interface protocol.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the business sectors include real estate, medicine, corporate.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information is retrieved and received via a network.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the network is the Internet.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the purpose is selected from the group consisting of real estate-related, medical-related, corporate-related, and financial-related.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising collecting the data from the decision logic for generating visual displays of a decision hierarchy and an influence diagram.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the user is prompted to approve the visual displays of the decision hierarchy and the influence diagram.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a database interface provides an interlace between the database and the collaborative decision platform.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each column heading in the strategy table includes a strategic decision from a decision hierarchy with alternatives for a decision arranged therebeneath.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the tornado diagram identifies sources of significant risk in each of a plurality of alternative strategies and the decision sensitivity output displays identify sources of significant value in each of the alternative strategies.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

defining a minimum set of attributes;

receiving first information regarding each of the minimum set of attributes from a receiving business;

receiving second information regarding proposed products or services in terms of the minimum set of attributes, wherein the second information is received from a supplying business;

executing a decision process based on the first information and the second information as to which products or services is suitable for the receiving business.

12. A computer program product for providing a collaborative decision platform adapted to run on a computer, comprising:

(a) computer code for executing an application capable of performing decision logic;

(b) computer code for retrieving information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

(c) computer code for receiving information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

(d) computer code for processing the information utilizing the decision logic;

(e) computer code for collecting data, wherein the data includes (i) policies that form boundary conditions associated with the decision logic, (ii) strategic decisions to be made, (iii) values that are important to the user, (iv) uncertainties that impact the values, and a relationship between (i)(iv);

(f) computer code for creating a strategy table using the data;

(g) computer code for assessing the uncertainties for analysis purposes; and

(h) computer code for generating a tornado diagram and decision sensitivity output displays;

(i) wherein computer code segments (a)-(d) are carried out by a collaborative decision platform capable of executing computer code segments (b)-(d) for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic;

(j) wherein the decision logic provides a hybrid strategy;

(k) wherein an application interface provides an interface between the application and the collaborative decision platform, where computer code segments (b)-(d) are carried out using universal modules capable of interfacing with different applications adapted for applying the universal modules to different business sectors;

(l) wherein the collaborative decision platform communicates with the application through a standard interface protocol.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the information is retrieved and received via a network.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the network is the Internet.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the purpose is selected from the group consisting of real estate-related, medical-related, corporate-related, and financial-related.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, and further comprising computer code for collecting data from the decision logic for generating visual displays of a decision hierarchy and an influence diagram.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the user is prompted to approve the visual displays of the decision hierarchy and the influence diagram.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein a database interface provides an interface between the database and the collaborative decision platform.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein each column heading in the strategy table includes a strategic decision from a decision hierarchy with alternatives for a decision arranged there beneath.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the tornado diagram identifies sources of significant risk in each of a plurality of alternative strategies and the decision sensitivity output displays identify sources of significant value in each of the alternative strategies.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, and further comprising at least one code segment for:

defining a minimum set of attributes;

receiving first information regarding each of the minimum set of attributes from a receiving business;

receiving second information regarding proposed products or services in terms of the minimum set of attributes, wherein the second information is received from a supplying business;

executing a decision process based on the first information and the second information as to which products or services is suitable for the receiving business.

22. A system for providing a collaborative decision platform adapted to run on a computer, comprising:

(a) logic for executing an application capable of performing decision logic;

(b) logic for retrieving information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

(c) logic for receiving information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

(d) logic for processing the information utilizing the decision logic;

(e) logic for collecting data, wherein the data includes (i) policies that form boundary conditions associated with the decision logic, (ii) strategic decisions to be made, (iii) values that are important to the user, (iv) uncertainties that impact the values, and a relationship between (i)(iv);

(f) logic for creating a strategy table using the data;

(g) logic for assessing the uncertainties for analysis purposes; and

(h) logic for generating a tornado diagram and decision sensitivity output displays;

(i) wherein logic elements (a)-(d) are carried out by a collaborative decision platform capable of performing logic elements (b)-(d) for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic;

(j) wherein the decision logic provides a hybrid strategy;

(k) wherein an application interface provides an interface between the application and the collaborative decision platform, where logic elements (b)-(d) are carried out using, universal modules capable of interfacing with different applications adapted for applying the universal modules to different business sectors;

(l) wherein the collaborative decision platform communicates with the application through a standard interface protocol.