Improving Decision Making

Purpose: Use spreadsheet formulas and IF function or expert system tool to build a simple expert system.

Task: Expert systems typically use a large number of rules. This task has been simplified to reduce the number of rules, but it will give you experience working with a series of rules to develop an application. Review the case below and complete the requirements.

Case: When employees at your company retire, they are given cash bonuses. These cash bonuses are based on the length of employment and the retirees age. To receive a bonus, an employee must be at least 50 years of age and have worked for the company for more than five years. The following table summarizes the criteria for determining bonuses.

LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT	BONUS
<5 years	No bonus
510 years	20 percent of current annual salary
1115 years	30 percent of current annual salary
1620 years	40 percent of current annual salary
2125 years	50 percent of current annual salary
26 or more	years 100 percent of current annual salary

Using the information provided, build a simple expert system. Use your spreadsheet software to build the expert system. (If you are using spreadsheet software, we suggest using the IF function so you can see how rules are created.) Alternatively, find a demonstration copy of an expert system software tool on the web that you can download.

In the answer boxes below, paste screenshot of your rules and a successful run of your simple system.

2-1: Screenshot of rules from your spreadsheet or your expert system tool.

2-2: Screenshot of a successful test case of your simple system.