Information Technology Reference
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cleaners, maintenance, catering, cargo, baggage, passengers, pilots, fuel, and air traffic clear-
ance. British Airways' quantitative analysis helped them achieve a better departure record.
The final stage of the problem-solving process is the monitoring stage . In this stage,
decision makers evaluate the implementation to determine whether the anticipated results
were achieved and to modify the process in light of new information. Monitoring can involve
feedback and adjustment. For example, after the first shipment of fruit from Hawaii to
Michigan, you might learn that the flight of your chosen air freight firm routinely stops in
Phoenix, Arizona, where the plane sits on the runway for a number of hours while loading
additional cargo. If this unforeseen fluctuation in temperature and humidity adversely affects
the fruit, you might have to readjust your solution to include a new carrier that does not
make such a stop, or perhaps you would consider a change in fruit packaging.
Good decision makers monitor their decisions and make changes if necessary. After
monitoring a decision to place its video programming on its Internet site called Innertube,
CBS decided to change course and place its sports, news, and entertainment content on a
wide range of video Web sites to get wider coverage. 3
monitoring stage
The final stage of the problem-
solving process, in which
decision makers evaluate the
implementation.
Programmed versus Nonprogrammed Decisions
In the choice stage, various factors influence the decision maker's selection of a solution. One
such factor is whether the decision can be programmed. Programmed decisions are made
using a rule, procedure, or quantitative method. For example, to say that inventory should
be ordered when inventory levels drop to 100 units is a programmed decision because it
adheres to a rule. Programmed decisions are easy to computerize using traditional informa-
tion systems. For example, you can easily program a computer to order more inventory when
levels for a certain item reach 100 units or less. Most of the processes automated through
enterprise resource planning or transaction processing systems share this characteristic: The
relationships between system elements are fixed by rules, procedures, or numerical relation-
ships. Management information systems can also reach programmed decisions by providing
reports on problems that are routine and in which the relationships are well defined. (In other
words, they are structured problems.)
programmed decision
A decision made using a rule,
procedure, or quantitative method.
Ordering more products when
inventory levels drop to specified
levels is an example of a
programmed decision.
(Source: © Andersen Ross/Getty
Images.)
 
 
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