On conducting a decision group to construct semantic decision tables

Abstract

Semantic Decision Table (SDT) was introduced to support collaborative decision making. Semantics, a group of decision makers, mutual understanding and collaborative environment(s) are at the heart of SDT. In practice, it is rather difficult to construct SDT within a decision group. We try to tackle this problem by modeling SDT within the context of information system, which is based on McGrath's Conceptual Framework for the Study of Group. Ontologies and DOGMA (Developing Ontology-Grounded Methods and Applications) approach to ontology engineering are proposed to store the semantics and mutual understanding for SDT. In this paper, we also propose a generic method of guiding a group to construct SDT, which is illustrated with an example of online customer management in the privacy domain. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.