An Empirical Investigation of the Effects of Decision Aids on Problem-Solving Processes*

Despite the growing number of investigations examining decision support systems (DSS), relatively few empirical studies have evaluated the effects of DSS on problem-solving processes. This study uses protocol analysis to investigate the impact of a specific decision aid on problem-solving processes in a semi-structured problem. Results indicate that decision aids influence the problem-solving processes of decision makers. The effect of a decision aid is found to be contingent on familiarity with the decision aid, task familiarity, and the interaction of these two factors. Suggestions for incorporating interaction effects and problem-solving processes into future examinations are proposed.     

Education CREATIVE THINKING AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATION IN THE DECISION SCIENCES

Creative problem solving is seldom addressed directly in the decision sciences literature. The first half of this paper reviews current thinking about creativity and its educational importance. The remainder addresses creative problem-solving processes and, in particular, the process developed by Parnes, Noller and Biondi [24] and Osborn [23]. This process has been integrated into an OR/MS problem-solving course which is described. Conclusions and implications for decision sciences education and practice in general are discussed.     

A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way: An Examination of Teams’ Engagement in Creative Processes

Using surveys and interview data this research examines teams’ engagement in creative processes. Results of cluster analysis indicated that the more creative teams were those that perceived that their tasks required high levels of creativity, were working on jobs with high task interdependence, were high on shared goals, valued participative problem-solving, and had a climate supportive of creativity. In addition, members of the more creative teams spent more time socializing with each other and had moderate amounts of organizational tenure. Implications for management are discussed.     

Decisional Conflict and User Acceptance of Multicriteria Decision-Making Aids*

Despite the development of increasingly sophisticated and refined multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, an examination of the experimental evidence indicates that users most often prefer relatively unsophisticated methods. In this paper, we synthesize theories and empirical findings from the psychology of judgment and choice to provide a new theoretical explanation for such user preferences. Our argument centers on the assertion that the MCDM method preferred by decision makers is a function of the degree to which the method tends to introduce decisional conflict. The model we develop relates response mode, decision strategy, and the salience of decisional conflict to user preferences among decision aids. We then show that the model is consistent with empirical results in MCDM studies. Next, the role of decisional conflict in problem formulation aids is briefly discussed. Finally, we outline future research needed to thoroughly test the theoretical mechanisms we have proposed.     

Consistency and Accuracy in Decision Aids: Experiments with Four Multiattribute Systems*

There have been a number of multiattribute decision aids developed to aid selection problems. Multiattribute value theory and the analytic hierarchy process are two commonly used techniques. Different systems can result in radically different conclusions if they inaccurately and inconsistently reflect the preference structure of decision makers, or if they are based on inappropriate theoretical models. This study examines the impact of the underlying theoretical model, the method in which preference information is elicited, and the structure of alternatives as influences on the results from using various decision aids. It was found that two systems based on the multiattribute value theory model were just as diverse in their conclusions as were results between AHP and the multiattribute value theory models. Therefore, accuracy of information reflecting decision maker preference is an important consideration. Feedback capable of assuring the decision maker that information provided is consistent is a necessary feature required of decision aids applied to selection problems. The study also found that the way in which information is elicited influenced the result more than did the underlying model. Exact numerical data for complex concepts such as attribute importance and alternative performance on attributes is not necessary, and elicitation procedures that are more natural for the user are likely to be more accurate.     

The impact of training on the formulation of ill-structured problems

Problem structuring heuristics and creative thinking techniques have been advanced as useful approaches for solving ill-structured problems. Unfortunately, little controlled experimentation has been done to test the effectiveness of these techniques. This paper describes an experiment in which the effects of training in the use of a problem-structuring heuristic and creative thinking on the quality and quantity of problem statements are investigated. The experiment illustrates that such training does have a positive impact on problem formulation quality and quantity.     

"管理学在中国"研究的理论反思与实践探索——第2届"管理学在中国"学术研讨会综述

第2届“管理学在中国”学术研讨会的研讨内容可分为3个方面：①对“管理学在中国”研究的理论反思;②“管理学在中国”的实践探索,包括中国企业管理实践模式和战略管理实践等问题的研究;③“管理学在中国”的理论体系建构。本届研讨会的学术特色为：逐渐向解决中国实际管理问题聚焦;平等、热情与自信的学术对话;更加开放的学术视野。在研究的前瞻与期盼方面,要有研究中国实际问题的切实行动;进一步营造宽松自由的学术环境,鼓励采用那些适合于原创性知识形成的研究方法：加强“管理学在中国”的国际学术交流等。     

The Interaction Effects Between General Thinking Skills and an Interactive Graphics-Based DSS to Support Problem Structuring*

An interactive graphics-based problem-structuring aid, GISMO, based on concepts from structural modeling and motivated by research in imagery theory and cognitive psychology was incorporated into a decision support system. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the relationships between three individual general thinking skills (GTS) and the effectiveness of the problem-structuring tool. A theoretical model of the roles of GTS and GISMO in problem formulation and a methodology for testing the model are presented. The model posits that the effectiveness of visual problem-structuring aids in formulating or understanding complex problems is influenced by specific cognitive skills (i.e., visual-thinking, verbal, and logical-reasoning skills). The results indicate GISMO use is related to higher levels of problem-structure understanding, regardless of verbal and logical-reasoning skills. Also, the results indicate a strong interaction effect between GISMO use and visual-thinking skill. Subjects classified as high visual thinkers benefited more from the use of GISMO than the low visual-thinking subjects. The results of the experiment lend support for the findings of a previous study of GISMO reported in the literature, and the image theorist view that the ability to create and use visual, mental images is related to better problem-solving performance.     

基于Bootstrap抽样的多元过程能力指数估计

过程能力指数主要用于定量描述加工过程满足技术规格要求的能力,目前普遍使用的能力指数如Cp、Cpk、Cpm等主要针对单一质量特性,关于多元质量特性的过程能力指数尚未得到很好地解决.本文首先对多元过程能力指数的发展情况做一总结,指出现存的若干问题,然后在单变量过程服从正态分布的假设下,利用单一质量特性加工过程的差异系数,对单变量过程能力指数进行加权处理,得到多元过程能力指数的计算公式.然后基于Bootstrap抽样技术,对多元过程能力指数的统计分布进行仿真处理,获得了多元能力指数的经验分布及其大致的置信区间,从而为有效进行多元质量特性加工过程分析提供了概率依据.最后以某曲轴加工过程为例给出了应用案例.     

案例行动学习法——效率与效果的兼顾

案例教学法、行动学习法等主流商科情境教学模式虽在国内商学院中得到广泛的应用,但囿于使用过程中的资源限制、实施变形及方法本身的局限性,导致教学双方的反馈尚不尽如人意。本文介绍了一种全新的商科情境教学方法--"案例行动学习法"。论文应用建构主义理论探讨了"案例行动学习法"的基本原理,研究了该种方法的能力建构机理,分析了其成为工商管理主流情境教学方法的效率与效果的平衡机理,介绍了前期应用的效果。研究结果表明,"案例行动学习法"作为一种全新的工商管理情境教学方法,能够将案例教学与行动学习两种方法的优点有机结合在一起,具备在全国范围内推广的条件。     

Formulating the mess: The role of decision aids in problem formulation

Analytic decision aids have been criticized by some practitioners for their inability to address questions of problem formulation. These aids typically begin with the assumption that a problem has been recognized and stated, and that the task of the sequential step-wise analysis process is to indicate the optimal strategy in terms of a specified choice criterion. Writers such as Ackoff, Mason & Mitroff and Raiffa have argued that this approach may lead to solving the wrong problem, particularly when applied to ill-structured, complex organizational decision problems. The purpose of this paper is to provide a more thorough understanding of the nature of problem formulation and the use of techniques for assisting decision-makers in this process. The paper attempts first to develop an understanding of the process of organizational problem formulation through the examination of current literature and research. This is seen to be a necessary prerequisite for discussing the value of decision aids for problem formulation. Second, attention is focused on aids to problem formulation. Included is discussion about the matching of problem to problem type, creativity stimulants, dialectical inquiry and devil's advocate approaches, as well as the role of formal analysis as a stimulant for a policy dialogue process. Finally, the relationships between the various approaches are examined and a synthetic model for their use in problem formulation is suggested.     

一种改进的系统评价理论框架

本文提出一种改进的系统评价理论框架。研究内容分为四个部分:第一,系统思想与系统评价的历史回顾。第二,从批判(主义)的系统思想出发,提出改进的系统评价理论框架。第三,指出组织策划分析在系统评价中的重要作用。第四,分析系统评价设计中的障碍性问题,以评价措施的结构分析为引导,研究该问题的求解方法。     

An Arborescent Network Formulation and Dual Ascent Based Procedure for the Two-Stage Multi-Item Dynamic Demand Lotsize Problem

Traditional approaches for modeling and solving dynamic demand lotsize problems are based on Zangwill's single-source network and dynamic programming algorithms. In this paper, we propose an arborescent fixed-charge network (ARBNET) programming model and dual ascent based branch-and-bound procedure for the two-stage multi-item dynamic demand lotsize problem. Computational results show that the new approach is significantly more efficient than earlier solution strategies. The largest set of problems that could be solved using dynamic programming contained 4 end items and 12 time periods, and required 475.38 CPU seconds per problem. The dual ascent algorithms averaged .06 CPU seconds for this problem set, and problems with 30 end items and 24 time periods were solved in 85.65 CPU seconds. Similar results verify the superiority of the new approach for handling backlogged demand. An additional advantage of the algorithm is the availability of a feasible solution, with a known worst-case optimality gap, throughout the problem-solving process.     

Aids in determining strategy,the internal analysis

The analytical processes by which strategic planning is determined have been examined from many different standpoints. This paper breaks the process of strategic planning down into the internal and external analysis that a company has to undertake. The author defines these two concepts and provides interesting insights into the manner in which the two elements of the process are dove-tailed together. The paper describes a number of aids which can be utilized to determine the strategic whole and provides a number of interesting new insights into the utilization of those aids. The author provides a coherent and comprehensive format for the development of effective strategic planning.     

Dialog als kreativer Denkraum in lernenden Organisationen

Dialogue — a space for creative thinking in learning organisationsToday almost every enterprise or institution has to face growing pressure, has to deal with unexpected unusual problems which cannot be solved by conventional standard strategies. New creative ways to diagnose and solve expected problems are to be found and integrated. Thus can dialogue be a useful instrument? And if this is the case, how can this unusual form of discussion be integrated into the daily fully-organized life? Can dialogue essentially change culture and communication in an enterprise? An empirical study carried out at two international companies allows us the gain an insight into the companies and shows us possible ways.     

Assessment of leader problem-solving capabilities

We describe the development of and initial psychometric evidence for a set of five constructed response measures designed to assess complex problem-solving skills and knowledge expected to influence leadership. Structured (cued) and unstructured (uncued) problem solving scenarios intended to assess process skills associated with creative problem solving are presented first. Solution construction tasks developed to assess attention to constraints and characteristics in the broader problem context are presented next. Finally, social judgment tasks intended to assess understanding of people and social systems and a task sort to assess knowledge of leadership roles are presented. Preliminary evidence for the reliability and construct validity of these constructed response measures supports their efficacy in assessing skills that underlie effective organizational leadership.     

Peers,proactivity, and problem-solving: A multilevel study of team impacts on stress appraisals of problem-solving demands

ABSTRACT

To date, there is a paucity of research on team-level impacts on the individual stress appraisal process despite the recognised role of teams for solving problems. Applying a multilevel approach, this study investigates the cross-level impact of team problem prevention behaviours on employee stress appraisals of problem-solving demands. It was hypothesised that team problem prevention would moderate the individual-level relationship between problem-solving demands and stress appraisals. Data were collected from 43 work teams comprised of 192 team members including all team leaders who also provided evaluations of their team’s problem prevention behaviour. Results supported the hypothesised cross-level moderating effects on challenge appraisal, but not threat appraisal. As one of the first studies to demonstrate that stress appraisals are impacted by the group, not just by individual factors, the results support a multilevel conceptualisation of stress appraisals. The findings also highlight implications for practice, broadening the scope of possibilities for stress management interventions to utilise team-level strategies such as leadership development programmes and/or team building initiatives.     

Exploring the relationship of leadership skills and knowledge to leader performance

The criterion-related validity of constructed response measures of complex problem-solving skills, social judgment skills, and leader knowledge is examined with respect to two criteria of leader effectiveness: leader achievement and quality of solutions to ill-defined leadership problems. Core aspects of the leader capabilities model are tested using these measures in a series of hierarchical regression analyses. Results indicate that constructed response measures of key leader capabilities account for variance in leader effectiveness and provide initial validation evidence for a central part of the theoretical model. The problem-solving, social judgment and knowledge measures account for significant variance in leadership criteria beyond that accounted for by cognitive abilities, motivations, and personality. Initial evidence also suggests that complex problem-solving skills, social judgment and leader knowledge partially mediate the relationship of cognitive abilities, motivation and personality to leader effectiveness. Implications and generalizability of the results are discussed in light of a related civilian leadership study conducted within the U.S. Department of Defense.     

高校科研团队知识管理系统要素研究——来自教育部创新团队的实证分析

高校科研团队是由科研任务牵引的知识团队,团队运作的最终目标是实现科技创新,创造新知识、新技术和培养创造性人才。成功的团队管理往往就是有效的知识管理。在高校科研团队的运作过程中,自始至终贯穿着知识创新活动,并且知识创新始终处于核心地位。文章首先从知识管理的角度探讨了高校科研团队的运作过程,提炼出团队知识管理的系统要素,在此基础上运用结构方程模型方法,通过对107支教育部创新团队进行问卷调查和实证,分析验证组织、文化和资源等要素对高校科研团队知识管理系统的影响和作用机理。研究发现,组织、文化和资源等要素直接或间接地影响着团队创新绩效,知识管理行为扮演着重要的中介作用,实践中应该从这些要素的有效协同入手,才能保证创新绩效的有效提升。