Decision analysis (DA) is a normative discipline comprising the philosophy, theory, methodology, and professional practice necessary to formally address important decisions. Decision analysis includes many procedures, methods, and tools for identifying, clearly representing, and formally assessing the important aspects of a decision; for computing a recommended course of action by applying the maximum expected utility action axiom to a well formed representation of the decision basis; and for translating the decision basis and its corresponding recommendation into insight for the decision-maker and other decision participants.

See also:  Appraisal, Basic Relevance Diagram, Decision Analysis Cycle, Decision Theory, Evaluation and Formulation.