Matrix
Exploring decision support with a clear place for human judgment.
Matrix is SOFTech's early, privately funded internal prototype. Its broader decision-support vision remains proposed research and development.
A question for future research
How could a decision-support system help people revisit a decision when the evidence changes? The following example illustrates a possible direction for future work, beyond what the current prototype demonstrates.
In a fictional community storm-recovery exercise, a coordinator is comparing locations to stage supplies. A new road closure report changes what is known about access to one of the sites.
Check the evidence
The comparison starts with the available reports. New information changes the picture.
- Earlier exercise report
- The site's access road is open.
- Updated exercise report
- The access road is now closed. The site's suitability needs another review.
Understand the tradeoffs
- Hard constraints
- For this exercise, a site needs usable access and backup power.
- Weighted preferences
- The coordinator weighs delivery distance, storage capacity, and readiness among options that meet the requirements.
Keep a human review point
The coordinator reviews the updated source, revisits the comparison, and explains the reasoning behind the exercise decision.
The coordinator remains responsible for the decision.
Discuss decision support or applied R&D
Start with the problem you are trying to understand and the people who need to make the decision.