What is Influence Diagram

This article examines the application of a modeling technique called influence diagramming to decision support system (DSS) analysis. Influence diagrams allow the development of a model of the natural (at least from the perspective of the decision maker) structure of a decision situation. These diagrams are simple to develop and understand, providing the DSS analyst and the decision maker with a useful basis for communication. The diagrams can also be easily translated into specifications detailing the design of a computer-based system. In particular, influence diagrams are well suited to the specification and description of spreadsheet-based models commonly used in contemporary decision support systems.