Decision-making system, method and computer program product

• US 7,478,076 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Owen, Daniel L., Kusnic, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US11/768,815
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

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

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

(d) processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic;

(e) wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between a receiving business and a supplying business in real-time;

wherein the decision logic provides potential feasible hybrid themes.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein (b)-(d) are carried out using universal modules capable of interfacing with different applications adapted for applying the universal modules to different business sectors.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second 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 business sector includes at least one of a real estate-related business sector, medical-related business sector, corporate-related business sector, and financial-related business sector.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein (a)-(d) are carried out by a platform capable of accomplishing (b)-(d) for different purposes by executing the different applications each capable of performing different decision logic.

6. A method, comprising:

executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

retrieving first information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

receiving second information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic; and

collecting data from the decision logic for generating visual displays of a decision hierarchy and an influence diagram;

wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between a receiving business and a supplying business in real-time.

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 7, wherein the data includes (a) policies that form boundary conditions associated with the decision logic, (b) strategic decisions to be made, (c) values that are important to the user, (d) uncertainties that may impact the values, and a relationship between (a)-(d).

9. The method as recited in claim 6, and further comprising creating a strategy table using the data.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, and further comprising assessing the uncertainties for analysis purposes.

11. A method, comprising:

executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

retrieving first information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

receiving second information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic; and

generating a tornado diagram and decision sensitivity output displays;

wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between a receiving business and a supplying business in real-time.

13. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for retrieving first information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

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

computer code for processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic; and

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

wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between a receiving business and a supplying business in real-time.

14. A system, comprising:

logic for executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

logic for retrieving first information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

logic for receiving second information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface;

logic for processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic; and

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

wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between the receiving business and the supplying business in real-time.

15. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for executing an application capable of performing decision logic, the application including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for retrieving first information from a database in accordance with the decision logic;

computer code for receiving second information from a user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing a user interface; and

computer code for processing the first and second information utilizing the decision logic;

wherein collaborative decision making is carried out between a receiving business and a supplying business in real-time;

wherein the decision logic provides potential feasible hybrid themes.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the hybrid themes include hybrid strategies.

17. A method, comprising:

defining a plurality of attributes;

receiving first information regarding the attributes from a receiving business;

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

executing a decision process based on the first information and the second information;

wherein the defining, receiving the first information, receiving the second information, and executing are carried out using a system capable of;

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

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

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

(iv) processing the database information and the user information utilizing the decision logic for generating output of the processing; and

(v) wherein (i)-(iv) are carried out by a decision platform capable of accomplishing (ii)-(iv) for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic, the different applications including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

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

wherein the decision platform communicates with the application through an interface protocol.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the attributes include at least one of price, sales, variable costs, fixed cost, and investment.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the attributes further include at least one of market share, market size, labor cost, material cost, administrative cost, annual expenses, working capital, planning and equipment.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the first information and second information are received utilizing a network.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the network is the Internet.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the business sectors include at least one of real estate, medicine, corporate, and financial.

23. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision platform includes a collaborative decision platform.

24. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include at least one of a framing module, an alternatives module, an analysis module, and a connection module.

25. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include a framing module.

26. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include an alternatives module.

27. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include an analysis module.

28. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include a connection module.

29. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the universal modules include a framing module, an alternatives module, an analysis module, and a connection module.

30. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision process relates to which products or services is suitable for the receiving business.

31. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision process relates to customer relationship management.

32. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the interface protocol includes a standard interface protocol.

33. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the products or services include products.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the products include non-existent products.

35. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the products include existent products.

36. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the products or services include services.

37. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein real-time decision making is provided.

38. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein real-time collaborative decision making is provided between the receiving business and the supplying business.

39. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein data is collected for generating a decision hierarchy.

40. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein data is collected for generating an influence diagram.

41. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the system is further capable of delivering presentation information to the user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing the user interface.

42. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision platform includes an industry independent platform.

43. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the supplying business provides alternatives in terms of an associated effect on the first information.

44. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision platform is utilized to negotiate a purchase agreement.

45. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the decision platform is utilized to negotiate a delivery agreement.

46. A computer program product embodied on a tangible computer readable medium for providing customer-centric collaborative decision making in a business-to-business framework based upon a plurality of defined attributes and in association with a decision system adapted to perform operations comprising (i) executing a decision logic application, (ii) retrieving database information from a database in accordance with the decision logic application, (iii) accepting user information through a user interface in accordance with decision logic application, and (iv) processing the database information and the user information in accordance with the decision logic application for generating output of the processing, the computer program product comprising:

computer code for receiving first information regarding the attributes from a receiving business;

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

computer code for executing a decision process based on the first information and the second information;

wherein execution of the decision logic application directs the decision system operations for different purposes using different decision logic applications, the different decision logic applications including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

wherein execution of the decision logic application directs the decision system operations through an application interface, the decision system operations being performed using universal modules adapted to interface with the different decision logic applications through an interface protocol, for applying the universal modules to different business sectors.

47. The computer program product as recited in claim 46, wherein the at least one application is the product supply-related application.

48. A computer program product embodied on a tangible computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for defining a plurality of attributes;

computer code for receiving first information regarding the attributes from a receiving business;

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

computer code for executing a decision process based on the first information and the second information;

wherein the computer code for defining, receiving the first information, receiving the second information, and executing is executed using a system capable of;

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

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

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

(iv) processing the database information and the user information utilizing the decision logic for generating output of the processing; and

(v) wherein (i)-(iv) are carried out by a decision platform capable of accomplishing (ii)-(iv) for different purposes by executing different applications each capable of performing different decision logic,

wherein an application interface provides an interface between the application and the decision platform, where (ii)-(iv) are carried out using universal modules capable of interfacing with different applications adapted for applying the universal modules to different business sectors, the different applications including at least one application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

wherein the decision platform communicates with the application through an interface protocol.

49. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the attributes include at least one of price, sales, variable costs, fixed cost, and investment.

50. The computer program product as recited in claim 49, wherein the attributes further include at least one of market share, market size, labor cost, material cost, administrative cost, annual expenses, working capital, planning and equipment.

51. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the first information and second information are received utilizing a network.

52. The computer program product as recited in claim 51, wherein the network is the Internet.

53. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the business sectors include at least one of real estate, medicine, corporate, and financial.

54. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision platform includes a collaborative decision platform.

55. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal modules include at least one of a framing module, an alternatives module, an analysis module, and a connection module.

56. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal modules include a framing module.

57. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal modules include an alternatives module.

58. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal modules include an analysis module.

59. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal module include a connection module.

60. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the universal modules include a framing module, an alternatives module, an analysis module, and a connection module.

61. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision process relates to which products or services is suitable for the receiving business.

62. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision process relates to customer relationship management.

63. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the interface protocol includes a standard interface protocol.

64. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the products or services include products.

65. The computer program product as recited in claim 64, wherein the products include non-existent products.

66. The computer program product as recited in claim 64, wherein the products include existent products.

67. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the products or services include services.

68. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein real-time decision making is provided.

69. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein real-time collaborative decision making is provided between the receiving business and the supplying business.

70. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein data is collected for generating a decision hierarchy.

71. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein data is collected for generating an influence diagram.

72. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the system is further capable of delivering presentation information to the user in accordance with the decision logic utilizing the user interface.

73. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision platform includes an industry independent platform.

74. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the supplying business provides alternatives in terms of an associated effect on the first information.

75. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision platform is utilized to negotiate a purchase agreement.

76. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the decision platform is utilized to negotiate a delivery agreement.

77. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the at least one application is the corporate-related application.

78. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the at least one application is the product supply-related application.

79. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the at least one application is the service supply-related application.

80. The computer program product as recited in claim 48, wherein the at least one application is the financial-related application.