The rulebase collects data related to the discretion
and then presents a recommendation to the user. The user is asked
to confirm or override the discretion and to fill in the free text reason
box for audit purposes. This approach is appropriate where questions of
fact and value are separable, but must be reconciled by a decision maker
in the exercise of the discretion. For example, the form in which
a discretionary provision appears may establish the relevant matters of
fact, but the decision maker is required to attach a value to each matter
of fact before exercising the discretion.
The rule structure must ensure that the recommendation
is known before the discretionary decision is required.
For example:
the child is a good child if
it is known whether or
not the child has a clean room and
it is known whether or
not the child has gone to bed on time and
the decision maker is of
the opinion that the child is a good child
the system recommends that the child is
a good child if
the child has a clean room
and
the child has gone to bed
on time
In such cases, exercise of the discretion as a base level
attribute relates to the reconciliation of questions of fact and value
by a decision maker. The help text relating to the base level attribute
will need to suggest values to be attached to particular entitlement data
in the exercise of the discretion.