Information optimization for decision making

Information optimization for decision-making is a system architecture definition problem as well as cognitive engineering or human factors issue. Human information processing, decision making and control are top-level functions of system architectures, but human information processing and decision making are not currently defined at that level. Present system design principles do not articulate a philosophy nor a body of practice about placing man in the system at the system architecture level. Since these functions do not appear in the top level architecture, they do not appear at the intermediate and lower levels of the design specifications. Having not been defined in the specifications, human decision making and control performance are generally not tested during the subsequent test and verification cycles. Decision making is no longer a uniquely human function in complex systems. Indeed, the speed and complexity of many system processes often preclude the human from decision and control functions. Several types of decision making processes can and should be automated. Optimized information processing for decision-making requires that cost allocations be made to provide for information generation, software and computer hardware architectures at the system-requirements levels.