Decision Tables - a brief overview

Index
Definition
Structure Steps to build a decision table Example Solution to the example Exercises

Decision Tables
In the 50's General Electric, the Sutherland Corporation, and the United States Air Force worked on a complex file maintenance project, using flowcharts and traditional narratives, they spend six labor-years of effort but failed to define the problem.
It was not until 1958, when four analysts using decision tables, successfully defined the problem in less than four weeks 1.
_____________________________________ 1Taken from A History of Decision Tables located at
http://www.catalyst.com/products/logicgem/overview.html

Definition
Tables represent an easy way for humans to read, understand and execute complex procedures, particular policies, etc. A decision table is a useful tool that allows us: - To present decision procedures in a clear tabular form. - To understand complex logic expressed in traditional narrative form. - To check for inconsistencies verifying that every possibility was considered in the solution.

Structure
A decision table is typically divided in four areas:
Condition Alternatives
Action Entries

Conditions Actions

The conditions are decisions that depending on their values, define different states of affairs in the problem. Actions (effects, results, etc.) are operations or values that will be determined by particular circumstances.

All possible combinations

<cond-1> <cond-2> F F F T F F F T F T T F F F T F F F F X X X X X X X F X X X F F X X X F T X X T F T F T T T T T T T T

Conditions

<cond-3> <cond-n> <action-1> <action-2>

Actions

<action-3> <action-m>

Actions per combination (each column represents a different state of affairs)

Steps to create a decision table

1. List all the conditions which determine which action to take.

2. Calculate the space of combinations.

3. Fill all combinations in the table.

4. Analyze column by column to determine which actions are appropriate for each combination.
5. Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

Example
Policy for charging charter flight costumers for certain in-flight services:2
If the flight is more than half-full and costs more than $350 per seat, we serve free cocktails unless it is a domestic flight. We charge for cocktails on all domestic flights; that is, for all the ones where we serve cocktails. (Cocktails are only served on flights that are more than half-full.)

_____________________________________ 2 Example taken form: Structured Analysis and System Specification, Tom de Marco, Yourdon inc., New York, 1979.

List all the conditions that determine which action to take.

Conditions The flight more than halffull? Cost is more than $350?

Values Yes (Y), No (N) Y, N

Is it a domestic flight?

Y, N

Calculate the space of combinations

Conditions
1 2 3

Number of Combinations
2 4 8 Y N Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y

Possible Combinations

Y N Y N Y

N N N N Y Y Y N N Y N Y N N N N N

2n

Calculate the space of combinations1

Number of Values to the power of the number of conditions with these values
If all conditions are simply Y/N values: 2number of conditions If 1 condition with 3 values and 3 with 2: 31 * 23 = 24

Or, use the values per condition and multiply each value down the column, e.g. 3*2*2*2=24
_____________________________________ 1 Taken from Mariel de Wildes Decision Table Training Session

Calculate the space of combinations

Conditions in the example are 3 and all are two-valued ones, hence we have: All combinations are 23 = 8

Fill all combinations in the table.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS more than $350 per seat domestic flight ACTIONS N N N N Y Y Y Y

Analyze column by column to determine which actions are appropriate for each combination
POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N N N Y Y Y Y

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N N N Y Y Y Y

Note that some columns are identical but by one condition.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N N N Y Y Y Y

Note that some columns are identical but by one condition.

Which means that actions are independent from the value of that particular condition.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N N N Y Y Y Y

Note that some columns are identical but by one condition.

Which means that actions are independent from the value of that particular condition. Hence, the table can be simplified.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N N Y Y Y Y

First we combine the yellow ones nullifying the condition.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N Y Y Y Y

First we combine the yellow ones nullifying the condition.

Then the red ones.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N N Y Y Y Y

First we combine the yellow ones nullifying the condition.

Then the red ones.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

Notice that yellow and red columns are identical but by one condition.

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS N Y Y Y Y

First we combine the yellow ones nullifying the condition.

Then the red ones.

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight

N X

Y X

N X X

Y X

Notice that yellow and red columns are identical but by one condition.
So, we combine them.

ACTIONS

serve cocktails free

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS more than $350 per seat domestic flight ACTIONS serve cocktails free N Y Y Y

First we combine the yellow ones nullifying the condition.

Then the red ones.

N X X

Y X

Notice that yellow and red columns are identical but by one condition.
So, we combine them. Then we combine the violet colored ones.

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS more than $350 per seat domestic flight ACTIONS serve cocktails free N Y Y Y

Notice that even when we observe that the green columns seem to be identical but by one condition.

N X X

Y X

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS more than $350 per seat domestic flight ACTIONS serve cocktails free N Y Y Y

Notice that even when we observe that the green columns are identical but by one condition. It is not the same a NULIFYIED condition than a valued one.

N X X

Y X

Reduce the table by eliminating redundant columns.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS more than halffull CONDITONS more than $350 per seat domestic flight ACTIONS serve cocktails free N Y Y Y

Notice that even when we observe that the green columns are identical but by one condition. It is not the same a NULIFYIED condition than a valued one.
BE CAREFUL, DO NOT OVERSIMPLIFY THE TABLE OR IT WILL GET REDUNDANT.

N X X

Y X

Final solution4
Combinations more than half-full CONDITONS N Y Y Y

more than $350 per seat

domestic flight ACTIONS serve cocktails free

N X X

Y X

_____________________________________ 4 In previous steps, other combinations were possible that if followed would have led to different but equivalent solution tables.

Exercises
Subsidy policy for the cub scout pack3:
The subsidy to the cub scout pack is based on number of scouts, rank, and length of membership. The subsidy for each scout is $25 for first-year members, $35 for second-year members, and $50 for scouts who have been members longer than two years. In addition to this base, each scout gets an extra subsidy of $10 if he has attained the rank of Wolf, $15 if he has attained the rank of Bear, and $20 if he has attained the rank of Lion unless he does it in his first year, in which case he receives $70.
_____________________________________ 3 Example taken form: Structured Analysis and System Specification, Tom de Marco, Yourdon inc., New York, 1979.

Exercises
Specify the following policy using a decision table: 1

A mailing is to be sent out to customers. The content of the mailing is about the current level of discounting and potential levels of discounting. The content is different for different types of customers.
Customer Types A, B and C get a normal letter except Customer Type C, who get a special letter. Any customer with 2 or more current lines or with a credit rating of X get a special paragraph added with an offer to subscribe to another level of discounting.

_____________________________________ 1 Taken from Mariel de Wildes Decision Table Training Session