Can reduced processing decision support interfaces improve the decision-making of less-experienced incident commanders?

Abstract

Computer-based decision support systems have been proposed as a tool to improve the decision-making of less-experienced personnel by reducing the information processing demands necessary for decision making. This study investigated the utility of three decision support system interfaces that differed in their capacity for reduced processing. The participants comprised experienced and less-experienced Fireground Incident Commanders who used the decision support system interfaces to identify the most appropriate entry point to extract a victim from a simulated burning building. The results revealed that reduced processing interfaces enabled less-experienced participants to acquire information using a process equivalent to their more experienced counterparts. However, this process did not result in improvements in the accuracy of the decision-making process. Indeed, the accuracy of experienced participants' decisions was consistently greater than the less-experienced participants, irrespective of the decision support system interface. It was concluded that the success of reduced processing decision support systems amongst less-experienced operators is significantly dependent upon their understanding of the relative value of key features associated with the decision-making process.