A decision table fundamentally consists of columns and rows.
Fundamental Structure
At its core, a decision table is built using a grid structure composed of columns and rows. These basic components serve as the framework for documenting complex decision-making logic in a clear, organized format.
Elements within the Table
According to the provided information, specific types of information are placed within these structural components:
- The circumstances and responses are shown in the table's columns.
- The alternative outcomes are shown in the table's rows.
Building the Table - Initial Steps
Developing a decision table begins with a crucial first step:
- Defining the issue at hand.
This initial stage involves understanding the problem or decision that needs to be modeled. Following this, the process includes:
- Identifying the relevant factors. These factors represent the conditions or inputs that influence the decision (the circumstances).
- Deciding what has to be done next. These are the actions or steps taken based on the circumstances (the responses).
Understanding the Elements
In the context of a decision table, these elements work together to map conditions to actions:
- Circumstances (often called conditions) are the variables, factors, or states that determine which action or outcome is appropriate.
- Responses (often called actions) are the steps, tasks, or procedures that are performed based on a specific set of circumstances.
- Alternative outcomes represent the different possible results or conclusions that can arise from the combination of circumstances and responses.
By organizing these elements into columns and rows, a decision table systematically lays out all possible combinations of circumstances and their corresponding responses and outcomes, making the decision logic transparent.
