Optimization of decision networks in structured task environments

This paper considers the problem of determining the optimal distributed decision strategy for a team of decisionmakers (DMs) arranged in an arbitrary acyclic organizational structure and controlling a complex structured process. The authors present an influence diagram model of the joint task-organization system and formulate the optimal team strategy in terms of a set of coupled hypothesis testing tasks at DMs. Specifically, the authors show that the scope of a local decision task is determined by the interaction of the task structure (what can be measured) and of the information access structure (who can measure what); while the control structure (who can influence what event) has an impact on the locally perceived costs associated with the decision options available.