Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9540-7949

Date of Award

Spring 4-28-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Department

Business

First Advisor

Likoebe Maruping

Abstract

This dissertation addresses a critical challenge in the domain of decision support systems: synthesizing real-world decision information in a way that's coherent, accessible, and actionable—particularly when decision-making occurs across multiple people, systems, and locations, known as "distributed decision-making contexts." The crux of this challenge lies in designing an effective "information architecture" that connects and organizes data to enable efficient decision-making in these complex, interconnected settings.

By employing distributed cognition as a theoretical framework, this research explores the pivotal role that a well-structured information architecture plays in enhancing collective decision-making. Distributed cognition, which perceives cognitive processes as extending beyond individuals to encompass artifacts and systems, provides a robust basis for examining decision-making in distributed environments.

To tackle this challenge, the study adopts the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), which emphasizes the creation and evaluation of artifacts aimed at addressing practical problems. This research leads to the development of a global multi-dimensional decision matrix model, designed to standardize, integrate, and streamline the exchange of decision information across diverse stakeholders and platforms. This innovative model incorporates cellular decision modeling and semantic web technologies to improve the efficiency of distributed decision-making.

The contributions of this dissertation are significant for both literature and practice. Practically, it introduces a new data standard that fosters improved collaboration, transparency, and efficiency in decision-making processes. Theoretically, it enriches the discourse on information architecture in distributed cognition by translating its principles into a tangible artifact, providing a concrete example of theoretical concepts applied in real-world scenarios.

In essence, this study offers a solution to a pressing problem in decision support systems, while simultaneously advancing academic discourse by bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical design science research. The resulting artifact underscores the potential of rigorous, informed research to contribute meaningfully to both academic scholarship and practical applications in the realm of decision support.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/36975060

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