Evaluating an influence diagram (ID) is a challenging problem because its complexity increases exponentially in the number of decision nodes in the diagram. In this paper, we examine the problem for a special class of IDs where multiple decisions must be made simultaneously. We describe a brief theory that factorizes out the computations common to all policies in evaluating them. Our evaluation...

W e study a revenue management problem involving competing firms. We assume the presence of a continuum of infinitesimal firms where no individual firm has any discernable influence over the evolution of the overall market condition. Under this nonatomic-game approach, the unanimous adoption of an equilibrium pricing policy by all firms will yield a market-condition process that in turn will el...

This work proposes a model-based guideline development method for complex diagnostic and treatment policies, for instance for symptom-based indications. An influence diagram has advantages for the development of outcome-based guidelines, because it provides an explicit link between the policies and these outcomes. A Bayesian network have a strong inference capability, suitable for complex sympt...

The proposed methodology is built upon the sequential use of specific tools, which are based on the integrated application of conceptual modelling and expert judgment elicitation techniques, decision analysis and probabilistic modelling, within the broader framework of the NetSyMoD methodology (Giupponi et al. 2008; www.netsymod.eu/), previously developed, facilitating the involvement of stakeh...

after collapse of the soviet :union:, russia is faced with strategic vaccum in its foreign policy for a time. thus, we were witnessing a period of unstable, inactive and reactionary policy- making in russian foreign policy while the us was expanding its influence on the russian periphery. but in putin's administration, the russian foreign policy has evolved dramatically. putin put the infl...

Dividend policy has long been an issue of interest in the financial literature. To date, a number of studies published on agency costs and dividend policy but most of them are on developed markets, It is well known that the emerging markets are quite different from developed markets in all respects. So, the existing published evidence is of limited relevance in identifying the influence of agen...

Alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods contribute greatly to the global burden of non-communicable disease (NCD). Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized the critical need to address these three key risk factors through global action plans and policy recommendations. The 2013-2020 WHO action plan identifies the need to engage economic, agricultural and other relevant...