Constructing and applying a constraint-choice-action matrix for decision making

A method, comprising:

• (a) depicting, through a graphical user interface (GUI) on an electronic display, a matrix X, such that, for a matrix Y that is equal either to X or to X-transpose,
• (i) a set of columns of Y, each column in the set having a column header that represents a respective column boolean expression that includes a column variable,
• (ii) a row of Y has a row header that represents a row conclusion, and
• (iii) within the row, the set of cells that correspond to the set of columns each cell providing a GUI control, which when activated displays a respective list from which a user can use the GUI to select a value of the column variable for the column, thereby forming a cell boolean expression,
• wherein the cell boolean expressions for the row are related to each other by boolean operators, thereby representing a row boolean expression;
• and the row conclusion corresponds to a particular value of the row boolean expression.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

• a) means for displaying a window on a display;
• and
• b) means for displaying a matrix X in the window, such that, for a matrix Y that is equal either to X or to X-transpose,
• (i) a set of columns of Y have column headers that specify a factor and an operator,
• (ii) a row of Y has a row header that represents a row conclusion, and
• (iii) within the row, the set of cells that correspond to the set of columns each provide a GUI control, which when activated displays a respective list from which a user can use the GUI control to select an operand to be a value of the respective cell, the value of the cell in combination with a respective column header of that cell forming a cell boolean expression,
• wherein the cell boolean expressions for the row are related to each other by boolean operators, thereby representing a row boolean expression;
• and
• the row conclusion corresponds to a particular value of the row boolean expression.

A display device that displays a representation of a matrix Y, which is equal to a matrix X or to the transpose of X, the matrix X comprising:

• a) a set of columns, each column in the set having a column header that represents a respective column boolean expression that includes a column variable;
• b) a row of a row header that represents a row action;
• and
• c) within the row, a set of cells that correspond to the set of columns, each cell providing a graphical user interface (GUI) control, which when activated displays a respective list from which a user can use the GUI control to select a value of the column variable for the column, thereby forming a cell boolean expression;
• wherein the cell boolean expressions for the row are related to each other by boolean operators, thereby representing a row boolean expression;
• the row action corresponds to a particular value of the row boolean expression;
• and the matrix Y is represented in tangible storage.