{"id":777,"date":"2014-09-04T03:05:25","date_gmt":"2014-09-04T03:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.w3computing.com\/systemsanalysis\/?p=777"},"modified":"2021-05-18T19:37:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T19:37:21","slug":"developing-decision-tables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.w3computing.com\/systemsanalysis\/developing-decision-tables\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Decision Tables"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A decision table is a table of rows and columns, separated into four quadrants, as shown in the table illustration below. The upper left quadrant contains the condition(s); the upper right quadrant contains the condition alternatives. The lower half of the table contains the actions to be taken on the left and the rules for executing the actions on the right. When a decision table is used to determine which action needs to be taken, the logic moves clockwise beginning from the upper left.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t37 {\r\r\n    border-collapse: collapse;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tborder-style: outset;\r\r\n    margin: 20px 0;\r\r\n\tline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n    vertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #94DBFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n\t\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 thead tr th.t37 {\r\r\n    color: #333333;\r\r\n\tbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #D1F0FF;\r\r\n    font-size: 1em;\r\r\n    letter-spacing: 0;\r\r\n    line-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.1em;\r\r\n    padding: 4px;\r\r\n    text-transform: none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t37 thead tr th#t37.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 thead tr th#t37.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #F0FAFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFEFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 50%;\r\r\n\t}table#t37 tbody tr td#n2 {\r\r\n\twidth: 50%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\ntable#t37 tbody tr:hover td {\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t37 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t37 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #D1F0FF;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t37\">\r\r\n\t\t<thead>\r\r\n\t\t\t<tr><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t37\" id=\"n1\">Conditions and Actions<\/th><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t37\" id=\"n2\">Rules<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Conditions<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >Condition Alternatives<\/td><\/tr><tr class= \"table-noalt row2\"><td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Actions<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >Action Entries<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose a store wanted to illustrate its policy on noncash customer purchases. The company could do so using a simple decision table as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t39 {\r\r\n    border-collapse: collapse;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tborder-style: outset;\r\r\n    margin: 20px 0;\r\r\n\tline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n    vertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #94DBFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n\t\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 thead tr th.t39 {\r\r\n    color: #333333;\r\r\n\tbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #D1F0FF;\r\r\n    font-size: 1em;\r\r\n    letter-spacing: 0;\r\r\n    line-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.1em;\r\r\n    padding: 4px;\r\r\n    text-transform: none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t39 thead tr th#t39.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 thead tr th#t39.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #F0FAFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFEFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #94DBFF;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 60%;\r\r\n\t}table#t39 tbody tr td#n2 {\r\r\n\twidth: 10%;\r\r\n\t}table#t39 tbody tr td#n3 {\r\r\n\twidth: 10%;\r\r\n\t}table#t39 tbody tr td#n4 {\r\r\n\twidth: 10%;\r\r\n\t}table#t39 tbody tr td#n5 {\r\r\n\twidth: 10%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\ntable#t39 tbody tr:hover td {\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t39 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t39 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #D1F0FF;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t39\">\r\r\n\t\t<thead>\r\r\n\t\t\t<tr><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t39\" id=\"n1\">Conditions and Actions<\/th><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t39\" id=\"n2\">Rule 1<\/th><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t39\" id=\"n3\">Rule 2<\/th><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t39\" id=\"n4\">Rule 3<\/th><th scope=\"col\" class=\"t39\" id=\"n5\">Rule 4<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Under $50<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >Y<\/td><td id=\"n3\" >Y<\/td><td id=\"n4\" >N<\/td><td id=\"n5\" >N<\/td><\/tr><tr class= \"table-noalt row2\"><td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Pays by check with two forms of ID<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >Y<\/td><td id=\"n3\" >N<\/td><td id=\"n4\" >Y<\/td><td id=\"n5\" >N<\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"table-alternate row3\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Uses credit card<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >N<\/td><td id=\"n3\" >Y<\/td><td id=\"n4\" >N<\/td><td id=\"n5\" >Y<\/td><\/tr><tr class= \"table-noalt row4\"><td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Complete the sale after verifying signature.<\/td><td id=\"n2\" >X<\/td><td id=\"n3\" ><\/td><td id=\"n4\" ><\/td><td id=\"n5\" ><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"table-alternate row5\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Complete the sale. No signature needed.<\/td><td id=\"n2\" ><\/td><td id=\"n3\" >X<\/td><td id=\"n4\" ><\/td><td id=\"n5\" ><\/td><\/tr><tr class= \"table-noalt row6\"><td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Call supervisor for approval.<\/td><td id=\"n2\" ><\/td><td id=\"n3\" ><\/td><td id=\"n4\" >X<\/td><td id=\"n5\" ><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"table-alternate row7\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\">Communicate electronically with bank for credit card authorization.<\/td><td id=\"n2\" ><\/td><td id=\"n3\" ><\/td><td id=\"n4\" ><\/td><td id=\"n5\" >X<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of the three conditions (sale under $50, pays by check, and uses credit cards) has only two alternatives. The two alternatives are Y (yes, it is true) or N (no, it is not true). Four actions are possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Complete the sale after verifying the signature.<\/li><li>Complete the sale. No signature needed.<\/li><li>Call the supervisor for approval.<\/li><li>Communicate electronically with the bank for credit card authorization.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final ingredient that makes the decision table worthwhile is the set of rules for each of the actions. Rules are the combinations of the condition alternatives that precipitate an action. For example, Rule 3 says:<\/p>\n\n\n<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t38 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 thead tr th.t38 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t38 thead tr th#t38.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 thead tr th#t38.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t38 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t38 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t38 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t38\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>IF\tN\t(the total sale is NOT under $50.00)\r\n\t\t\t\tAND\r\nIF\tY\t(the customer paid by check and had two forms of ID)\r\n\t\t\t\tAND\r\nIF\tN\t(the customer did not use a credit card)\r\n\t\t\t\tTHEN\r\nDO\tX\t(call the supervisor for approval).\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The foregoing example featured a problem with four sets of rules and four possible actions, but that is only a coincidence. The next example demonstrates that decision tables often become large and involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developing Decision Tables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To build decision tables, the analyst needs to determine the maximum size of the table; eliminate any impossible situations, inconsistencies, or redundancies; and simplify the table as much as possible. The following steps provide the analyst with a systematic method for developing decision tables:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Determine the number of conditions that may affect the decision. Combine rows that overlap, such as conditions that are mutually exclusive. The number of conditions becomes the number of rows in the top half of the decision table.<\/li><li>Determine the number of possible actions that can be taken. That number becomes the number of rows in the lower half of the decision table.<\/li><li>Determine the number of condition alternatives for each condition. In the simplest form of decision table, there would be two alternatives (Y or N) for each condition. In an extended-entry table, there may be many alternatives for each condition. Make sure that all possible values for the condition are included. For example, if a problem statement calculating a customer discount mentions one range of values for an order total from $100 to $1,000 and another range of greater than $1,000, the analyst should realize that the range from 0 up to $100 should also be added as a condition. This is especially true when there are other conditions that may apply to the 0 up to $100 order total.<\/li><li>Calculate the maximum number of columns in the decision table by multiplying the number of alternatives for each condition. If there were four conditions and two alternatives (Y or N) for each of the conditions, there would be 16 possibilities as follows:<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t40 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 thead tr th.t40 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t40 thead tr th#t40.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 thead tr th#t40.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t40 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t40 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t40 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t40\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1:\tX 2 alternatives\r\nCondition 2:\tX 2 alternatives\r\nCondition 3:\tX 2 alternatives\r\nCondition 4:\tX <u>2 alternatives<\/u>\r\n\t\t16 possibilities\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/li><li>Fill in the condition alternatives. Start with the first condition and divide the number of columns by the number of alternatives for that condition. In the foregoing example, there are 16 columns and two alternatives (Y or N), so 16 divided by 2 is 8. Then choose one of the alternatives, say Y, and write it in the first eight columns. Finish by writing N in the remaining eight columns as follows:<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t41 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 thead tr th.t41 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t41 thead tr th#t41.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 thead tr th#t41.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t41 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t41 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t41 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t41\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1: Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>Repeat this step for each condition, using a subset of the table,<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t42 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 thead tr th.t42 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t42 thead tr th#t42.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 thead tr th#t42.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t42 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t42 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t42 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t42\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1: Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N\r\nCondition 2: Y Y Y Y N N N N\r\nCondition 3: Y Y N N\r\nCondition 4: Y N\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>and continue the pattern for each condition:<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t43 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 thead tr th.t43 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t43 thead tr th#t43.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 thead tr th#t43.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t43 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t43 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t43 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t43\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1:\tY Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N\r\nCondition 2:\tY Y Y Y N N N N Y Y Y Y N N N N\r\nCondition 3:\tY Y N N Y Y N N Y Y N N Y Y N N\r\nCondition 4:\tY N Y N Y N Y N Y N Y N Y N Y N\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/li><li>Complete the table by inserting an X where rules suggest certain actions.<\/li><li>Combine rules where it is apparent that an alternative does not make a difference in the outcome. For example,<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t44 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 thead tr th.t44 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t44 thead tr th#t44.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 thead tr th#t44.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t44 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t44 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t44 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t44\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1:\tY Y\r\n<u>Condition 2:\tY N<\/u>\r\nAction 1:\tX X\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>can be expressed as:<style>\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t45 {\r\r\nborder-collapse: collapse;\t\r\r\nborder-width: 0px;\r\r\nborder-style: outset;\r\r\nmargin: 20px 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0em;\r\r\ntext-align: left;\r\r\nvertical-align: top;width: 100%;border-top: 1px solid #EEEEEE;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 thead tr {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 thead tr th.t45 {\r\r\ncolor: #333333;\r\r\nbackground: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\nfont-size: 1.5em;\r\r\nletter-spacing: 0;\r\r\nline-height: 2.0;\r\r\npadding: 4px;\r\r\ntext-transform: none;\r\r\ntext-align: left;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t45 thead tr th#t45.start {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 thead tr th#t45.end {\r\r\n\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 tbody tr {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FFFFFF;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 tbody tr.table-alternate {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FDFDFD;\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 tbody tr td#n1 {\r\r\n\twidth: 100%;\r\r\n\t}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t45 tbody tr td {\r\r\n    padding: 5px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;border-bottom: 1px solid #EEEEEE;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n\tline-height: 1.2;\r\r\n\tvertical-align: top;\r\r\n}\r\r\n}\r\r\ntable#t45 tfoot tr {\r\r\n}\r\r\n\r\r\ntable#t45 tfoot tr td {\r\r\n    background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #FCFCFC;\t\r\r\n\tpadding: 4px;\r\r\n\tborder-width: 0px;\r\r\n\tcolor: #7a7a7a;\r\r\n\tfont-size: 1.0em;\r\r\n\tborder-top: medium none;\r\r\n    text-align: left;\r\r\n}\r\r\n<\/style><table id=\"t45\">\r\r\n\t<tbody><tr class=\"table-alternate row1\"> <td id=\"n1\" class=\"start\"><pre>Condition 1:\tY\r\n<u>Condition 2:\t\u2014<\/u>\r\nAction 1:\tX\r\n<\/pre><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>The dash [\u2014] signifies that Condition 2 can be either Y or N, and the action will still be taken.<\/li><li>Check the table for any impossible situations, contradictions, and redundancies. They are discussed in more detail later.<\/li><li>Rearrange the conditions and actions (or even rules) if it makes the decision table more understandable.<\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A decision table is a table of rows and columns, separated into four quadrants, as shown in the table illustration below. The upper left quadrant contains the condition(s); the upper right quadrant contains the condition alternatives. The lower half of the table contains the actions to be taken on the left and the rules for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-process-specifications-structured-decisions","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Developing Decision Tables<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A decision table is a table of rows and columns, separated into four quadrants, as shown in the table illustration below. 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