Francisco Antunes

Integrating decision support and social networks

We elaborate on the shifting of decision support systems towards social networking, which is based on the concepts of Web 2.0 and Semantic Web technology. As the characteristics of the relevant components are different from traditional decision support systems, we present necessary adaptations when adopting social networks for decision support within an organization. We also present organizational obstacles when adopting/using such systems and clues to overcome them.

Information management in distributed collaborative systems: The case of collaboration studio

Abstract This paper presents the Collaboration Studio (CS) system, its argumentation and data-structuring models and gives some insights for dealing with information divergence. The system allows discussions among a group of participants that includes a coordinator. The working mechanisms implemented within CS are perfectly transparent to the user, hiding implementation details, giving an appealing and user-friendly environment, and so users do not have to worry about patterns of data distribution, or the details of distribution management. CS shares characteristics with other collaboration computational tools, such as synchronous and asynchronous support and both group working spaces and a local working space. However, its main purpose differs in that, instead of trying to achieve a single document as the outcome of the joint work of several users, CS aims to achieve a broader objective, which is to register (and to demonstrate) the “path” used to obtain certain knowledge.

Reviewing Motivations for Engaging in Decision Support Social Networks

This paper reviews the motivations for people to engage in decision support social networks, from existing connections between social network sites and decision support. The paper points out the three intertwined levels that influence interactions and motivation of people when engaged in social network participation: communities, networks and electronic networks of practice. Participating in social networks draws upon the interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors refer to motivation embedded in the action itself comes within the individual, rather than from external rewards or extrinsic factors such as money or recognition. The paper also identifies some problems in engaging in decision support social networks and discusses potential solutions, namely: to create and maintain a critical number of users; the issue of time in decision processes; linguistic barriers and issues of confidentiality.

The Impact of Online Social Networks on Decision Support Systems

Previous research on this matter had already determined that many concepts are encompassed by both online social networking and decision support systems research. Due to the large number of concepts and using clustering techniques, we were able to determine four concept clusters, namely: the technical infrastructure, online communities, network analysis and knowledge management. Then, we intended to gain further knowledge on how those concepts influenced DSS related research and the contribution of each cluster to the support of the phases of decision-making process. We also wanted to perceive the interconnections among the concept clusters themselves, for which we used structural equation modeling techniques.

Ascertaining group decision auditing capabilities

This article presents the design of a case study to assess the ability of a software tool to perform group decision auditing (GDA). This study uses the divergent information management system as the analysis artefact, which implements the divergent information model. The article provides a brief description of both model and tool and their links to GDA. It also describes the subject group, the objectives, the defined metrics for performance and the procedures for conducting the study.

Managing Divergent Information: Enhancing Document Expressiveness

In distributed environments, especially those where asynchronous work is the main rule, organizations need to protect their information’s integrity and persistence from the manipulation of shared information resources performed by multiple users. To deal with this scenario the divergent information management aims to support and solve (whenever possible) concurrent manipulation relative to shared information artifacts. Though several approaches can deal with this situation, none of them aims directly at knowledge management or organizational memory creation. In this paper we capitalize on earlier divergent information management approaches, presenting a divergent information model, based on information structuring rather than locking mechanisms over shared resources, as a means for reinforcing the connection between distributed collaboration, decision-making and knowledge management, by enhancing document expressiveness (its persistence and linking). We then use this model as a basis for a computer-supported system to handle divergent information and present detected problems and guidelines for future research.

Semantic web and decision support systems

Semantic Web technologies are intertwined with decision-making processes. In this paper the general objectives of the semantic web tools are reviewed and characterised, as well as the categories of decision support tools, in order to establish an intersection of utility and use. We also elaborate on actual and foreseen possibilities for a deeper integration, considering the actual implementation, opportunities and constraints within the context of decision-making. We conclude that a broader or generalised Semantic Web integration in the decision support community is still a work in progress and much remains to be done.

A Decision Reconstruction Support Model

The importance of understanding the reasons for past decisions is not a new subject. However, there seems to be a gap when it comes to verifying the efficiency of tools for understanding past decisions. In this paper, we show that the ability to perform decision reconstruction using a Group Support System (GSS) can provide a flexible solution to the problem, but only if the information model underlying it is able to provide bidirectional support to the phases of a decision-making process. For this, we present a general information model to support the decision-making process, as well as the decision reconstruction process. We tested these ideas by setting up a case study where we used a GSS, based on our model, to analyze a simulated public contracting process. We present a discussion of the results.

Essential Functionalities for Commercial Internet Presence: A Portuguese Study

A balanced implementation of functionalities within a commercial internet presence is important, because of not only the involved complexity and cognitive load required in their use, but also for financial reasons. Investing money on features e.g., software modules, programming time, maintenance and update, etc. that are not valued by online consumers, hinders an efficient allocation of resources, especially when financial resources are scarce, a situation that corresponds too many small businesses operating on the internet. However, literature provides little help for managers to decide which functionalities should be implemented, according to a rational basis. Within this context, this research sought to fill in the gap between literature review and the need for helping companies to understand better how to build and keep online businesses. The authors work identified 16 essential functionalities grouped into four sets: order processing, advertising and prominence, product analysis, and payment.

Semantic Web Tools and Decision-Making

Semantic Web technologies are intertwined with decision-making processes. In this paper the general objectives of the semantic web tools are reviewed and characterized, as well as the categories of decision support tools, in order to establish an intersection of utility and use. We also elaborate on actual and foreseen possibilities for a deeper integration, considering the actual implementation, opportunities and constraints in the decision-making context.