Solving Asymmetric Decision Problems with Influence Diagrams

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new approach to evaluate influence diagrams more efficiently by avoiding unnecessary computation caused by symmetrization in asymmetric decision problems.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel method to handle asymmetric decision problems directly in influence diagrams without symmetrization, reducing computational overhead.

Findings

Significantly reduces computation time for asymmetric problems

Improves efficiency of influence diagram evaluation

Provides a practical approach for asymmetric decision analysis

Abstract

While influence diagrams have many advantages as a representation framework for Bayesian decision problems, they have a serious drawback in handling asymmetric decision problems. To be represented in an influence diagram, an asymmetric decision problem must be symmetrized. A considerable amount of unnecessary computation may be involved when a symmetrized influence diagram is evaluated by conventional algorithms. In this paper we present an approach for avoiding such unnecessary computation in influence diagram evaluation.