A proposed cost-benefit analysis model for physical form analysis for a futuristic submarine decision support system

Abstract

This thesis proposes a model for cost-benefit analysis for physical form selection of a decision support tool, primarily to support system acquisition decisions that need to be made early in the system life cycle. By bringing objective and subjective costs and benefits into the same model and prescribing a unique approach to determining system utility, this thesis demonstrates how the proposed model can be applied for objective evaluation of display interfaces for a decision support system. The proposed model, which is applied to a proposed decision support system for submarine commanders managing multiple unmanned underwater vehicles, follows an integrated systems engineering approach by first determining function followed by form. A hybrid cognitive task analysis is used to determine function, and cost-benefit analysis is used to determine form. The hybrid cognitive task analysis is a method for determining functions of a futuristic system, and the proposed cost benefit model fills the gap for objective evaluation of form. The cost-benefit analysis was not straightforward, as determining objective usability of the physical display interfaces is difficult since it is not feasible to design fully functional interfaces and accompanying software in the conceptual design phase of the systems engineering process. Thus, one of the novel contributions of this cost-benefit model is the ability to objectively compare user performance across displays using a representative functional task in a relatively simple experimental setting.While the application of the proposed cost-benefit model is shown only for application to the submarine commander decision support interface, it can be easily adopted for other human-systems integration efforts where system acquisition decisions are involved. This would benefit decision makers and system integrators in effective resource allocation and useful system implementation in the conceptual design phase.