Intelligent Decision Making Systems: From Medical Diagnosis to Vocational Guidance

Abstract

This tutorial paper bas been written for physicians, biologists, more generally decision makers, who are beginners or little familiar with fuzzy sets theory and applications. The methodology that is presented is of special interest in the processing of borderline cases, allowing a graded assignment of diagnoses to patients or of professions to candidates (in vocational guidance systems). The field is first introduced in the framework of medical diagnosis assignments. Relationships between signs and diagnoses (then between criteria and jobs) are interpreted as labels of fuzzy sets and it is shown how diagnoses can be derived from soft matching processes. As is illustrated with practical examples, extracted from the FuzzIA system, a similar spirit in representing and processing knowledge can lead to intelligent systems that can assist decision makers in diagnosis, recognition or guidance processes. Rapid technological developments and a competitive global economy can lead to career changes. Handicapped persons who have lost some of their mental or physical abilities might need to be reassessed to return to the labor market. For such applications, the FuzzADe system aims at providing decision-making tools to assist staff members for vocational testing and assessment, vocational rehabilitation counseling and vocational guidance, based on aptitudes, attitudes or vocational interests.