As you saw in the opening vignete, computerized decision making has really taken ofT in recent years. Some have Mamed the financial crisis that began in 2007-2008 on ex- cessive reliance on these computerized decision-making modeh. Lending offices who used to make individualized decisions about credit worthiness through personal judg- CASE INCIDENT I Computerized Decision Making However, computer tain faults that might se Although computers ca they are not capable of scholar Amar Bhidé n ply rely on historical p opportunities." People portunities that lie just ment were replaced by computerized and statistical mod- ch shich rruulted in mechanistic decision making. As a els
As you saw in the opening vignete, computerized decision making has really taken ofT in recent years. Some have Mamed the financial crisis that began in 2007-2008 on ex- cessive reliance on these computerized decision-making modeh. Lending offices who used to make individualized decisions about credit worthiness through personal judg- CASE INCIDENT I Computerized Decision Making However, computer tain faults that might se Although computers ca they are not capable of scholar Amar Bhidé n ply rely on historical p opportunities." People portunities that lie just ment were replaced by computerized and statistical mod- ch shich rruulted in mechanistic decision making. As a els
Chapter1: Taking Risks And Making Profits Within The Dynamic Business Environment
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CE
Related questions
Question
![However, computer decision-making systems have cer-
tain faults that might severely constrain their usefulnew.
Although computers can grind through masses of data,
they are not capable of intuition or creative thought. As
scholar Amar Bhidé notes, "An innovator cannot sim-
ply rely on historical patterns in placing bets on future
opportunities." People are much more likely to spot op
portunities that lie just beyond what the data can tell us
CASE INCIDENT I Computerized Decision Making
As you saw in the opening vignette, computerized decision
making has really taken ofT in recent years. Some have
blamed the financial crisis that began in 2007-2008 on ex-
cessive reliance on these computerized decision-making
model. Lending officers who used to make individualized
decisions about credit worthiness through personal judg-
ment were replaced by computerized and statistical mod-
els, which resulted in mechanistic decision making. As a
result, large numbers of decisions were tied to a common
set of assumptions, and when those assumptions proved
to be wrong, the entire credit system fell apart and the
economy faltered.
Besides the use of computerized decision models,
the use of computerized systems like Twitter for in-
formation sharing and the burgeoning number of
computer "apps" may be leading to information over-
load, so facts and figures replace analysis and thought
in making human decisions. Eric Kessler from Pace
University's Lubin School of Business notes, "What
starts driving decisions is the urgent rather than the im-
portant." Researchers have begun to find that people
using too much information actually make worse deci-
sions than people with less information, or they get so
swamped in information that they are unable to reach
a decision at all.
directly. Also, groups of people working in collaben
tion can discuss and question assumptions and concls
sions. Computers cannot actively consider whether theie
programming makes sense or adapt automatically when
values change.
Questions
1. What are the specific advantages of using computes
ized decision making? How can computers be better
decision makers than humans?
2. What are the weaknesses of using computes as
decision tools? Are computers likely to have
specific problems in making decisions that people
wouldn't have?
any
3. Do you think computer decision making systems can
effectively take ethical issues into account? What is
the role of human decision makers in creating ethical
choices?
Computer decision models do present certain advan-
tages. Computers are capable of amassing and compiling
cnormous amounts of data and using them to spot trends
and patterns a human observer would simply never sce.
Computers also are not prone to emotional decision mak-
ing or falling into the heuristics and biases we discussed
in this chapter. Finally, computerized decision making sys-
tems are generally faster than human beings.
4. Are there advantages to conmpletely disconnecting
from the wired world when possible? What can you
do to try to retain your ability to focus and proces
information deeply?](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F1525360f-99c8-4257-bd58-2c45196176bf%2Ff37886a9-f1b9-40dc-adb5-9c8d46921e93%2Fh87bwpt_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:However, computer decision-making systems have cer-
tain faults that might severely constrain their usefulnew.
Although computers can grind through masses of data,
they are not capable of intuition or creative thought. As
scholar Amar Bhidé notes, "An innovator cannot sim-
ply rely on historical patterns in placing bets on future
opportunities." People are much more likely to spot op
portunities that lie just beyond what the data can tell us
CASE INCIDENT I Computerized Decision Making
As you saw in the opening vignette, computerized decision
making has really taken ofT in recent years. Some have
blamed the financial crisis that began in 2007-2008 on ex-
cessive reliance on these computerized decision-making
model. Lending officers who used to make individualized
decisions about credit worthiness through personal judg-
ment were replaced by computerized and statistical mod-
els, which resulted in mechanistic decision making. As a
result, large numbers of decisions were tied to a common
set of assumptions, and when those assumptions proved
to be wrong, the entire credit system fell apart and the
economy faltered.
Besides the use of computerized decision models,
the use of computerized systems like Twitter for in-
formation sharing and the burgeoning number of
computer "apps" may be leading to information over-
load, so facts and figures replace analysis and thought
in making human decisions. Eric Kessler from Pace
University's Lubin School of Business notes, "What
starts driving decisions is the urgent rather than the im-
portant." Researchers have begun to find that people
using too much information actually make worse deci-
sions than people with less information, or they get so
swamped in information that they are unable to reach
a decision at all.
directly. Also, groups of people working in collaben
tion can discuss and question assumptions and concls
sions. Computers cannot actively consider whether theie
programming makes sense or adapt automatically when
values change.
Questions
1. What are the specific advantages of using computes
ized decision making? How can computers be better
decision makers than humans?
2. What are the weaknesses of using computes as
decision tools? Are computers likely to have
specific problems in making decisions that people
wouldn't have?
any
3. Do you think computer decision making systems can
effectively take ethical issues into account? What is
the role of human decision makers in creating ethical
choices?
Computer decision models do present certain advan-
tages. Computers are capable of amassing and compiling
cnormous amounts of data and using them to spot trends
and patterns a human observer would simply never sce.
Computers also are not prone to emotional decision mak-
ing or falling into the heuristics and biases we discussed
in this chapter. Finally, computerized decision making sys-
tems are generally faster than human beings.
4. Are there advantages to conmpletely disconnecting
from the wired world when possible? What can you
do to try to retain your ability to focus and proces
information deeply?
Expert Solution
![](/static/compass_v2/shared-icons/check-mark.png)
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
Step by step
Solved in 5 steps
![Blurred answer](/static/compass_v2/solution-images/blurred-answer.jpg)
Recommended textbooks for you
![Understanding Business](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781259929434/9781259929434_smallCoverImage.gif)
Understanding Business
Management
ISBN:
9781259929434
Author:
William Nickels
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
![Management (14th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134527604/9780134527604_smallCoverImage.gif)
Management (14th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134527604
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781305947412/9781305947412_smallCoverImage.gif)
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Management
ISBN:
9781305947412
Author:
Cliff Ragsdale
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Understanding Business](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781259929434/9781259929434_smallCoverImage.gif)
Understanding Business
Management
ISBN:
9781259929434
Author:
William Nickels
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
![Management (14th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134527604/9780134527604_smallCoverImage.gif)
Management (14th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134527604
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781305947412/9781305947412_smallCoverImage.gif)
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Management
ISBN:
9781305947412
Author:
Cliff Ragsdale
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…](https://compass-isbn-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/isbn_cover_images/9780135191798/9780135191798_smallCoverImage.jpg)
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…
Management
ISBN:
9780135191798
Author:
Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134728391/9780134728391_smallCoverImage.gif)
Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…
Management
ISBN:
9780134728391
Author:
Ronald J. Ebert, Ricky W. Griffin
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134237473/9780134237473_smallCoverImage.gif)
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134237473
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter, David A. De Cenzo
Publisher:
PEARSON