Dependency Visualization Tool for Decision Support Systems with Preferential Dependencies

Abstract

Large-scale and long-term projects often consist of subtasks linked to each other with certain dependencies that need to be completed. Dependency evaluation and visualization tools can help identify project bottlenecks, prioritize tasks, and plan resource allocation. Hence, visualization tools can improve the efficiency of project interdependency management by dynamically displaying the project constraints and task dependencies. Many of the dependency visualization tools that are being used in the industry are designed to manage internal dependencies and task dependencies. In this work, we introduce an online tool for creating and maintaining visualizations of logical dependencies and preferential dependencies. The proposed online tool can be used with any process that is defined in terms of completing a well-defined logical sequence of activities that must be completed in order to reach a specific target, such as project planning, or with any process that can be completed by different sequences of activities, such as college degree planning (due to elective courses) or interest-aligned career planning. Keywords: academic decision making, decision support system, data visualization, dependency visualization, project management