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Can unstructured decisions be programmed directly into operational information systems so that they can be made with little or no human intervention?

1) Yes
2) No

User Joel Lucsy
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Unstructured decisions involve complex human judgment and cannot be fully programmed into operational information systems for automated decision-making. These decisions require human intervention due to their unpredictable and complex nature. While systems support decision-making, they cannot fully replace human decision-making in unstructured scenarios.

Step-by-step explanation:

Unstructured decisions are those that cannot be easily programmed because they are novel, ill-structured, and involve complex human judgment. Integrating such decisions directly into operational information systems to be made with little or no human intervention is not generally feasible. The economic model of decision-making is not a literal description of actual decisions made by individuals, firms, and governments; rather, it is a simplification to aid understanding of complex decision-making processes. When we consider the ability of operational systems to predict exactly what a human will do or manipulate a human into any behavior, we realize these goals are unattainable due to human unpredictability and complex cognitive processes.

In the context of automated systems and software interacting with workers, the system can only support decision-making processes to a certain extent. Human software interactions in complex automated systems aid decision-making, but cannot replace it entirely. Systems that can handle large scale processes, that are highly adaptable, and which present information in an easy-to-interpret and communicate manner do support decision-making but cannot fully automate unstructured decision-making. Information overload in the Information Age further complicates these processes, as individuals make numerous decisions daily without perfect information.

User Dan Stef
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