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

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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?
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?
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