Decision Support Systems for IAM

Abstract

Decisions are at the core of any IAM system. A decision support system is needed to identify what investments are best for a given asset and when is the best future period to implement it. Methods to support decisions could range from a simple ranking of options to more sophisticated prioritization and optimization. This chapter builds an understanding of decision support methods through practical examples that address each aspect related to the methods presented and concludes by presenting the development of the asset management plan as the instrument to operationalize the set of investments to be scheduled in the near and far future. Decision support systems only guide decisions, and the list of alternatives selected could be further assessed (or re-optimized) when considering their interaction with users and the needs of other systems. The final decision is always under the responsibility of the decision-maker.