Wednesday 16 December 2009

Creative choices and decision trees

Here is a simple example which use three simple creativity rules to generate output from any decision tree. The rules are:

choice "In order to improve our {this} which of these should I do: {outputs+useful} avoiding:{outputs+harmful}?"

produces(, harmful) "Why is {destination} a difficult choice?"

produces(&a=*, &b=useful) produces(&a, &c=harmful) "Can I choose {&b} over {&c}?"

Below is a screenshot showing an example decision tree, and the output generated. While this is a simple example, we hope you can see how more complex decision trees, and your own creative rules could open up a raft of new applications for Southbeach Modeller.

Rules can be saved for use across any model, and invoked at any time by clicking on the check boxes on the left. Here, the user has clicked on the upper choice box, and selected extent: widest, to generate output from all nodes in the model. There are eight statements generated (which appear in the lower panel of Modeller):

1.   In order to improve our 'Business strategy' which of these should I do: 'Investing in the company, Acquiring another company' avoiding:'Cost cutting'?
2.   Can I choose 'Investing in the company' over 'Cost cutting'?
3.   Can I choose 'Acquiring another company' over 'Cost cutting'?
4.   In order to improve our 'Investment strategy' which of these should I do: 'Invest in Product X, Acquire new products to replace X' avoiding:'Divest business unit X'?
5.   Can I choose 'Invest in Product X' over 'Divest business unit X'?
6.   Can I choose 'Acquire new products to replace X' over 'Divest business unit X'?
7.   Why is 'Divest business unit X' a difficult choice?
8.   Why is 'Cost cutting' a difficult choice?

Do you see why? Look at the rules above and try to work it out. Click on the screen shot below: