A methodology for analyzing decision networks, based on information theory

Maryam Ehsani, Ahmad Makui and Soheil Sadi Nezhad

European Journal of Operational Research, 2010, vol. 202, issue 3, 853-863

Abstract: This paper assumes the organization as a distributed decision network. It proposes an approach based on application and extension of information theory concepts, in order to analyze informational complexity in a decision network, due to interdependence between decision centers. Based on this approach, new quantitative concepts and definitions are proposed in order to measure the information in a decision center, based on Shannon entropy and its complement in possibility theory, U uncertainty. This approach also measures the quantity of interdependence between decision centers and informational complexity of decision networks. The paper presents an agent-based model of organization as a graph composed of decision centers. The application of the proposed approach is in analyzing and assessing a measure to the organization structure efficiency, based on informational communication view. The structure improvement, analysis of information flow in organization and grouping algorithms are investigated in this paper. The results obtained from this model in different systems as distributed decision networks, clarifies the importance of structure and information distribution sources effect's on network efficiency.

Keywords: Distributed; decision; network; Informational; complexity; of; decision; network; Shannon; entropy; U; uncertainty; in; possibility; theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:202:y:2010:i:3:p:853-863

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