1521798221module 3
1521798221module 3
Module 3
Subject Name : Management
Paper Name : Managerial Economics
Module Title : Elements of Decision Theory and Decision Analysis
Module ID : Module No. 3
Pre-requisite : Basic Knowledge of Quantitative Techniques
Objectives : To understand the basic elements of decision taking and various
decision criteria for selecting the optimal course of action
Key words : Acts, Events, Pay-off Matrix, Regret Matrix, EMV, EOL, EVPI,
Decision Tree.
Written by : Dr. S.C. Aggarwal, Former Director Shree Atmanand Jain
Institute of Managment and Techology, Ambala City
Learning Outcomes :
After having studied this module, the readers will be able :
To know decision making criteria under uncertainties
To know decision making criteria under risk
To understand decision tree technique of decision taking.
Quadrant I
Elements of Decision Taking and Decision Analysis
Introduction :
The basic task of manager is to take decision in business. The manager has certain
information on the basis of which decisions are to be taken. A decision is defined as
selection from two or more courses of action. The manager is uncertain about the actual
consequences that will occur for each course of action being considered. The study of
decision theory helps the decision maker (manager) to choose an optimal course of action
among several alternatives where the outcome or consequences associated with an action
is uncertain. Decision theory is concerned with the techniques for making decisions
especially under condition of uncertainty and risk.
which are uncertain and beyond the control of the decision maker. In the above example,
where the investor is faced with the problem of choosing one of the three alternatives for
investment, the states of nature (or called the potential demand) for the product may be
good, moderate or poor. The potential demand are called events or states of nature which
are uncertain. The state of nature or events are denoted by S1, S2, S3 ..... S4.
(3) Pay-off Table (or Pay-offs Matrix) : Pay off is the gain or losses received
by the decision maker from a given combination of course of action and event (or state
of nature). Pay off is also known as outcome, consequence, gains or losses. A pay off
table (or pay off matrix) consists of alternative course of action like A1, A2, A3 ..... An
and various states of nature (or events) like S1, S2, S3 ....... Sn involved in every act.
The specimen of a pay off table or pay off matrix is shown below :
Acts
States of Nature A1 A2 A3
S1 p11 p12 p13
S2 p21 p22 p23
S3 p31 p32 p33
In the above table, column represents acts, row represents events (or states of nature)
and p11, p12, ..... p33 are the pay off for a given combination of act and event.
(4) Opportunity Loss Table (or Regret Matrix) : Opportunity loss is the loss
incurred due to failure of not choosing the best possible course of action. It is the difference
between the highest possible pay off for a state of nature and the actual pay off obtained
for a particular action taken. In terms of formula.
Opportunity Loss or Regret for any act = Highest possible pay off for a state of nature
– pay off of that course of action.
An opportunity loss table (or regret matrix) gives the opportunity loss values or
regret for each combination of a course of action and state of nature.
A specimen of the opportunity loss table (or regret table) is shown below :
Opportunity loss (or Regret) Table
Acts
States of Nature A1 A2 A3
S1 M1 – p11 M1 – p12 M1 – p13
S2 M2 – p21 M2 – p22 M2 – p23
S3 M3 – p31 M3– p31 M3 – p33
With perfect information the decision maker would know in advance the demand for each
day and will store the exact number as per demand.The expected value of pefect
information (EVPI) is the difference between expected profit under perfect information
(Certainity) and expected pay-off with uncertainity (or EMV of Best Act). Symbolically,
EVPI = EPPI - EMV of Best Act
Where EPPI = (Best pay-off the Ist state of nature x probability of Ist state of
nature) + Best pay off for 2nd state of nature x probability of 2nd state of nature + .....
Best pay off for last state of nature x probability of last state of nature.
The following example illustrates the EMV, EOL and EVPI criteria.
Example : Pay-offs of three acts A, B and C and states of nature S1, S2, S3 are
given below :
Pay off (in Rs.)
Acts
State of Nature A B C
S1 -20 -50 200
S2 200 -100 -50
S3 400 600 300
The probabilities of the states of nature are 0.3, 0.4 and 0.3. Calculate the EMV
and EOL for the data given and select the best act. Also find the expected value of perfect
information (EVPI).
Solution (i) Calculation of EMV
Pay Off Table
Acts
States of Nature Probability A B C
S1 0.3 -20 -50 200
S2 0.4 200 -100 -50
S3 0.3 400 600 300
The expected monetary value (EMV) for the acts A, B and C are calculated below :
EMV (A) = –20 × 0.3 + 200 × 0.4 + 400 × 0.3 = Rs. 194
EMV (B) = –50 × 0.3 + –100 × 0.4 + 600 × 0.3 = Rs. 125
EMV (C) = 200 × 0.3 + –50 × 0-.4 + 300 × 0.3 = Rs. 130
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Since EMV of Act A is highest, Act A can be chosen as the best act.
(ii) Calculation of EOL
For calculating EOL, we first convert the pay-off matrix into opportunity losses
(or regret) matrix
Opportunity Loss (or Regret) Table
Acts
State of Nature A B C
S1 200 - (-20)=-220 20-(-50)=250 200 - 200 = 0
S2 200 - 200 = 0 200 - (-100)=300 200 - (-50)=250
S3 600 - 400=200 600-600=0 600-300=300
The expected opportunity losses (EOL) for the acts A, B and C are calculated as :
EOL (A) = 220 x 0.3 + 0 x 0.4 + 0.3 x 200 = Rs. 126
EOL (B) = 250 x 0.3 + 300 x 0.4 + 0 x 0.3 = Rs. 195
EOL (C) = 0 x 0.3 + 250 x 0.4 + 300 x 0.3 = Rs. 190
Since EOl of act A is minimum, Act A can be chosen as best act.
Note : Decision using EMV and EOL criteria are the same
(iii) Calculation of EVPI
To calculate EVPI, first we calculate EPPI
Expected Profit with Perfect Information
Acts
State of Nature Probability A B C Maximum Pay off
S1 0.3 -20 -50 200 200
S2 0.4 200 -100 -50 200
S3 0.3 400 600 300 600
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of action and the chance events are shown along the sub-branches. At the terminal of sub
branches are shown the expected values of the outcomes. Following diagram gives a
simplified view of the structure of the decision tree :
Outcomes
Speciment of Decision Tree Q11
E1
p1
p2 Q12
Chance E2
Node p3
E3 Q13
A1
E1 Q21
p1
Decision
A2 p2
Chance E2 Q22
Node Node p3
E3 Q23
A
3
E1 Q31
p1
Chance p2 Q32
Decision Node E2
Node
p3
Chance Node
E3 Q33
A decision tree is highy useful to a decision maker to reach at the optimal act. Using
Roll Back Technique, from forward to the backward, we are able to eliminate unprofitable
branches and determine optimal decision.
Example 4 : A company is evaluating three alternative investment opportunities whose
returns are based on the state of economy. The possible state of the economy and the
associated probabilities is as follows :
State of Economy Excellent Good Fair
Probability 0.2 0.3 0.5
The return for each investment opportunity and each state of the economy are as follows:
Pay of Table (in ‘000 Rs.)
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Alternatives
State of Economy A B C
Excellent 10 6 8
Good 14 10 5
Fair 8 7 6
Using the decision-tree approach, which alternative investment proposal would you
recommend if EMV criteria is to be used.
Expected Payoff
4 0.2 x 10 = 2
0.2
0.3
1 5 0.3 x 14 = 4.2
0.5
EMV=10.2
6 0.5 x 8 = 4
10.2
A 1
7 0.2 x 6 = 1.2
0.2
A2 0.3
D 2 8 0.3 x 10 = 3
0.5
EMV = 7.7
9 0.5 x 7 = 3.5
7.7
A
3
10 0.2 x 8 = 1.6
0.2
3 0.3 0.3 x 5 = 1.5
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EMV=6.1 0.5
12 0.5 x 6 = 3
6.1
Since node 1 has highest EMV, so the company will opt for alternative A1
Summary
Decision theory is concerned with choosing an optimal course of action from among
several alternatives. Decisions are made under uncertainity and risk. Among the criteria
for taking decision under uncertainity are included maximax, maximin, minimax, Hurwicz
and Laplace criteria. For taking decisions under risk, the criteria included are EMV and
EOL criteria. In addition, the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) is also
calculated. A decision problem can also be depicted and solved using decision tree
approach ( a graphical represenation). In decision tree approach, decision is taken by
computing EMV.
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Quadrant III
Learn More
Few important sources to learn more on decision theory.
1. Richard I. Levin, David S. Rubin, Statistics for Management, Prentice Hall of India
Private Ltd., New Delhi.
2. R.S. Bhardwaj, Business Statistics, Excel Books, New Delhi
3. U.K. Srivastava, G.V. Shenoy and S.C. Sharma, Quantitative Techniques of
Management Decision, New Age International, New Delhi.
4. N.D. Vohra, Quantitative Techniques for Management, Tata McGraw Hill
5. J.K. Sharma, Business Statistics, Pearson Education
6. H.A. Taha, Operations Research, Pearson Publications.
7. Hira and Gupta, Operations Research, Sultan Chand, New Delhi.
Points to Ponder
The decisions taken by a manager govern the fortunes of business — right decison
may make and wrong one may mar.
Decision criteria under situation of uncertainity is governed by the attitude of decision
maker.
Decision making under risk is a probabilistic decision situation.
EMV and EOL criteria yields the same decision under risk.
Decision tree approach is a graphical represenation of the decision making problem.
In decission tree, we choose that branch of the tree to climb which can support us
with greatest strength.
Quadrant IV
Self-Assessment
Multiple Choice Questions
(Pick the correct answer)
1. A type of decision making environment is
(a) Certainity (b) Uncertainity
(c) Risk (d) All of the above [Ans. (d)]
2. Which of the following criteria is used for decision making under certainity ?
(a) Maximax (b) Maximin
(c) Minimax (d) All the above [Ans. (d)]
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