Professionals are expected to make decisions on a daily basis. Some of these decisions may appear trivial, such as what shirt to wear, or what to have for lunch. Some may appear routine and almost free of in-depth consideration. Should I provide my PIN number when prompted by the ATM? Should I respond (in some fashion) to a question addressed to me by a colleague? Other decisions are more complex and potentially more significant. Should I recommend that my client invest in a particular firm? Should I offer to take on additional work now that one of my current projects appears to be nearing completion? Should I purchase a new technology, given my current knowledge of its potential benefits? Should I recommend a settlement in a lawsuit, given my expectations of how the other party is likely to act in the near term?

These aren't simple questions, and we can't expect individuals to always have immediate and appropriate answers. What we can expect, however, is some level of thought, and some level of a desire for assistance when good solutions are needed. The origin of this assistance can vary, but being the eternal tool builders that we are, we tend to find such assistance in the form of data analysis and interpretation mechanisms. Increasingly these are high-tech, information-intensive mechanisms, and are ever more within our own grasp to develop and master.