Abstract
In the day to day job of a Network Manager at Bellsouth there are many decisions which have to be made. One such decision opportunity arose about one week ago. The question was what to do with a major cable which is in the way of a guard rail that the Department of Transportation is installing. In this paper, the decision on what to do with this cable will be solved using a decision tree. The discussion will include the major factors involved in making the decision and also show how the final decision was made.
Decision tree
The decision tree is an effective way to make a business decision; because you can write out multiple alternatives and different options that will go along with these alternatives. To show how effective the decision tree is, this paper will demonstrate how a Network Manager at Bellsouth will handle a situation that has come about due to the Department of Transportation (DOT) needing to add a guardrail to a road in which a major cable is in the way.
When using a decision tree one should start with the question, which in this case is what to do with the major cable. Then branch out from there with at least two options of what to do next. In this case there are three options: one would be to work with the DOT and move the cable as needed, two would be to replace the cable in another spot before the DOT started working, or three to hang this section of cable in the air. All three of these options are feasible, but only one is the best decision to make. The challenge is to come up with the best decision using the decision tree. And by diagramming the decision analytically the decision will be a more informed. (Hullett & Hillson, 2006). ...
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...ecision, in which everyone can be happy with. If someone were to look at this without going through the process of the decision tree, they may believe that option one would have been the best decision, for the simple fact that it would have been cheaper for the company. But this would have been the wrong decision because there are more risk factors that have to be looked at when making a decision. In this case the cable could have been cut while trying to move it and we would have lost some credibility with the DOT because it would have cost them more money. In the end we came up with the best decision for everybody.
References
Hulett, D. T., & Hillson, D. (May 2006). Branching out. PM Network, 20(5), 36-40. Retrieved July 8, 2006 from, EBSCOhost database.
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Roy, B. (1993). Decision science or decision-aid science? European journal of operational research , 66 (2), 184-203.
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In dealing with most complex problems in today’s work environment, there may be more than one good answer to a problem. The question then becomes one of picking the best answer; this is called decision-making. Weighing the consequences of th...
The following is a decision-making model that I have used to arrive at a decision.
Hammond, J. S., Keeney, R. L., & Raiffa, H. (1998). The Hidden Traps in Decision Making. Harvard Business Review, 76(5), 47-58.
Hollows, P 2002, 'Essentials of a smooth-running network', Communications News, vol. 39, no. 7, p. 16.
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