A decision support system for agricultural producers /
In the risky environment of agricultural production, farm and ranch managers face critical and complex decisions. The process of evaluating decision alternatives is further complicated by uncertain weather and economic conditions. Many producers lack the skills, time, or confidence to conduct fina...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2001.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=729055671&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | In the risky environment of agricultural production, farm and ranch managers face critical and complex decisions. The process of evaluating decision alternatives is further complicated by uncertain weather and economic conditions. Many producers lack the skills, time, or confidence to conduct financial analyses, and resort to less accurate, informal evaluation methods. A discussion of the decision process and financial simulation methods provides a background for the study of the potential to influence the agricultural production manager's decision process. A decision support system is developed and implemented to provide pro-forma financial and risk projections for alternative strategic plans. The goal of the system is to provide relevant decision information to help the manager make more informed decisions. The unique components and the implementation of the system are described. Even though the decision making process is complex, evidence suggests that it can be influenced and improved through the use of a decision support system. A subjective evaluation based on analyst experience and client comments indicates that several aspects of the decision process are impacted. The accomplishments, struggles, and secondary benefits of the system are presented. The decision support system also provides a foundation for future research, which may lead to a better understanding of the process by which the human mind makes decisions. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Agricultural Economics". |
| Physical Description: | ix, 99 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74). |