Ch. 11 - Automated Decision Systems and Expert Systems

Question 1

Rules used in automated decision systems (ADS) can be derived based on experience.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most business decision rules are the same across industries.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Flight pricing systems are examples of semi-automated decision systems that require managerial input for each decision.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A revenue management (RM) system for an airline seeks to minimize each customer’s ticket price of travel on the airline’s flights.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

Rule-based systems have their roots in artificial intelligence.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Rich and Knight (1991) defined artificial intelligence as “the study of how to make people do things at which, at the moment, computers are better.”

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Expert systems (ES) are computer-based information systems that use expert knowledge to attain high-level decision performance in a narrowly defined problem domain.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

A person’s decision performance and level of knowledge are typical criteria that determine their level of expertise in a particular subject.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

The basic rationale of artificial intelligence is to use mathematical calculation rather than symbolic reasoning.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

While most first-generation Expert Systems (ES) use if-then rules to represent and store their knowledge, second-generation ES are more flexible in adopting multiple knowledge representation and reasoning methods.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

The case study on chemical, biological, and radiological agents shows that expert systems are widely used in high pressure situations where the human decision makers are confident in taking quick actions.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

A nonexpert uses the development environment of an expert system to obtain advice and to solve problems using the expert knowledge embedded into the system.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Knowledge acquisition from experts is a complex task that requires specialized expertise to conduct successfully.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

The knowledge base in an expert system must correspond exactly to the format of the knowledge base in the organization where it will be utilized.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

The inference engine, also known as the control structure or the rule interpreter (in rule-based ES), is essentially a computer program that provides a methodology for reasoning about information in the knowledge base and on the blackboard to formulate appropriate conclusions.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

The critical component of a knowledge refinement system is the self-learning mechanism that allows it to adjust its knowledge base and its processing of knowledge based on the evaluation of its recent past performances.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Validation of knowledge is usually done by a human expert in the knowledge domain.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Once validated, the knowledge acquired from experts or induced from a set of data must be represented in a format that does not need to be understandable by humans but must be executable on computers.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

Inference rules and knowledge rules are both used to solve problems in a rule-based expert system.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Unlike human experts, expert systems do not need to explain their views, recommendations, or decisions.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

Who are automated decision systems (ADS) primarily designed for?
A) strategic level managers making long-term, wide-ranging decisions
B) mid-level managers making tactical decision
C) frontline workers who must make decisions rapidly
D) operational managers who make shop floor decisions

Answer 21

C) frontline workers who must make decisions rapidly

Question 22

Revenue management systems modify the prices of products and services dynamically based on
A) intuition, demand, and supply.
B) intuition, competition, and supply.
C) business rules, demand, and supply.
D) business rules, supply, and intuition.

Answer 22

C) business rules, demand, and supply.

Question 23

What would explain why a divorce attorney in New York City may not be considered an expert in Beijing, China?
A) You need a greater level of experience in Beijing to practice law.
B) No criteria to evaluate divorce attorneys exist in Beijing.
C) The divorce attorney in New York does not speak Mandarin.
D) Expertise is frequently domain dependent.

Answer 23

D) Expertise is frequently domain dependent.

Question 24

What does self-knowledge in an expert system (ES) mean?
A) An ES understands itself in a very human sense.
B) An ES understands the human decision maker.
C) The ES can explain how it reached a conclusion.
D) The ES “knows” that it exists.

Answer 24

D) The ES “knows” that it exists.

Question 25

How does an expert system differ from conventional systems? A) Changes in an expert system are tedious to make. B) The expert system operates only when it is complete. C) Expert systems handle qualitative data easily. D) Execution of expert system programs is algorithmic or step-by-step.

Answer 25

C) Expert systems handle qualitative data easily.

Question 26

In the sport talents identification case study, the expert system was calibrated with expertise from A) multiple sports experts. B) one overall sports expert. C) ) the system developer. D) subjects in the cases used to create the ES.

Answer 26

D) subjects in the cases used to create the ES.

Question 27

) In the chemical, biological, and radiological agents case study, the CBR Advisor program had all the following features EXCEPT A) it could provide advice even incomplete information. B) it was tailored to different types of users. C) it was available online to the general public. D) it was created by multiple experts.

Answer 27

C) it was available online to the general public.

Question 28

The MYCIN Expert System was used to diagnose bacterial infections using A) a simulation model that tried out many options. B) a set of 500 rules on the subject. C) an optimization model. D) an expert system whose performance was inferior to human experts.

Answer 28

B) a set of 500 rules on the subject.

Question 29

Which module is missing from most expert systems? A) user interface subsystem B) knowledge base subsystem C) inference engine D) knowledge refinement subsystem

Answer 29

D) knowledge refinement subsystem

Question 30

All the following statements about how an expert system operates are true EXCEPT A) incorporated knowledge is drawn exclusively from human experts. B) a knowledge engineer creates inferencing rules. C) knowledge rules are stored in the knowledge base. D) inference engines contain an explanation subcomponent.

Answer 30

D) inference engines contain an explanation subcomponent.

Question 31

In the heart disease diagnosis case study, what was a benefit of the SIPMES expert system? A) Expert systems from other domains were used, saving development time. B) The SIPMES system agreed with human experts 64% of the time. C) The SIPMES system could diagnose all types of cardiovascular diseases. D) No human expert knowledge was needed in development, only textbook knowledge.

Answer 31

C) The SIPMES system could diagnose all types of cardiovascular diseases.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a stage of knowledge engineering? A) knowledge consolidation B) knowledge representation C) knowledge acquisition D) knowledge validation

Answer 32

A) knowledge consolidation

Question 33

It is difficult to acquire knowledge from experts for all the following reasons EXCEPT A) experts may not be able to put into words how they conduct their work. B) testing and refining of knowledge is complex and difficult. C) many business areas have no identifiable experts. D) experts often change their behavior when observed.

Answer 33

C) many business areas have no identifiable experts.

Question 34

Using certainty factors, a rule declares that IF competition is strong, CF = 70 AND margins are above 15% CF = 100 THEN sales demand will decline. If both conditions are true, what is the CF of the conclusion? A) 100% B) 70% C) 30% D) 21%

Answer 34

B) 70%

Question 35

Using certainty factors, a rule declares that IF competition is strong, CF = 70 OR margins are above 15% CF = 100 THEN sales demand will decline. If both conditions are true, what is the CF of the conclusion? A) 100% B) 70% C) 30% D) 21%

Answer 35

A) 100%

Question 36

Which category of expert systems that includes weather forecasting and economic/financial forecasting? A) diagnostic ES B) planning ES C) instruction ES D) prediction ES

Answer 36

D) prediction ES

Question 37

Which tool would be best to use when there is a need to very rapidly and cheaply develop a rule-based expert system? A) LISP or Prolog languages B) ASP.NET C) an ES shell D) C++

Answer 37

C) an ES shell