Dual interactive visualization system for sensitivity analysis to risk preferences for decision support

Abstract

A system, computer program product, and method is described to provide a visualization tool which portrays the certain equivalent for one or more hypothetical (i.e. synthetic) or real probability distributions p(m), and optionally allows the user to manipulate that representation, resulting in associated changes to the underlying utility function u(m). In a first example, the risk preference visualization tool allows one to explore how the certain equivalent depends upon the probability distribution p(m), for a fixed utility function u(m). In a second example, the risk preference visualization tool allows one to explore how the certain equivalent depends upon the utility function u(m), assuming one or more fixed probability distributions p(m), p(m), etc. In a third example, the decision maker can provide feedback through the visualization tool that would cause their utility function to be modified.