Our main objective is to improve decision making in counterterrorism applications by implementing expected utility for prescriptive decision making and prospect theory for descriptive modeling. The areas that we aim to improve are behavioral modeling of adversaries with multi objectives in counterterrorism applications and incorporating risk attitudes of decision makers to risk matrices in assessing risk within an adversarial counterterrorism framework. Traditionally, counterterrorism applications have been approached on a single attribute basis. We utilize a multi-attribute prospect theory approach to more realistically model the attacker’s behavior, while using expected utility theory to prescribe the appropriate actions to the defender. We evaluate our approach by considering an attacker with multiple objectives who wishes to smuggle radioactive material into the United States and a defender who has the option to implement a screening process to hinder the attacker. Next, we consider the use of risk matrices (a method widely used for assessing risk given a consequence and a probability pairing of a potential threat) in an adversarial framework – modeling an attacker and defender risk matrix using utility theory and linking the matrices with the Luce model. A shortcoming with modeling the attacker and the defender risk matrix using utility theory is utility theory’s failure to account for the decision makers’ deviation from rational behavior as seen in experimental literature. We consider an adversarial risk matrix framework that models the attacker risk matrix using prospect theory to overcome this shortcoming, while using expected utility theory to prescribe actions to the defender.

This study investigates E-banking Operational Risk Assessment (ORA) to enable the development of a new ORA framework and methodology. The general view is that E-banking systems have modified some of the traditional banking risks, particularly Operational Risk (OR) as suggested by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in 2003. In addition, recent E-banking financial losses together with risk management principles and standards raise the need for an effective ORA methodology and framework in the context of E-banking. Moreover, evaluation tools and / or methods for ORA are highly subjective, are still in their infant stages, and have not yet reached a consensus. Therefore, it is essential to develop valid and reliable methods for effective ORA and evaluations. The main contribution of this thesis is to apply Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) and Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes (TAN) classifier as standard tools for identifying OR, and measuring OR exposure level. In addition, a new ORA methodology is proposed which consists of four major steps: a risk model, assessment approach, analysis approach and a risk assessment process. Further, a new ORA framework and measurement metrics are proposed with six factors: frequency of triggering event, effectiveness of avoidance barriers, frequency of undesirable operational state, effectiveness of recovery barriers before the risk outcome, approximate cost for Undesirable Operational State (UOS) occurrence, and severity of the risk outcome. The study results were reported based on surveys conducted with Nigerian senior banking officers and banking customers. The study revealed that the framework and assessment tools gave good predictions for risk learning and inference in such systems. Thus, results obtained can be considered promising and useful for both E-banking system adopters and future researchers in this area.

This study investigates E-banking Operational Risk Assessment (ORA) to enable the development of a new ORA framework and methodology. The general view is that E-banking systems have modified some of the traditional banking risks, particularly Operational Risk (OR) as suggested by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in 2003. In addition, recent E-banking financial losses together with risk management principles and standards raise the need for an effective ORA methodology and framework in the context of E-banking. Moreover, evaluation tools and / or methods for ORA are highly subjective, are still in their infant stages, and have not yet reached a consensus. Therefore, it is essential to develop valid and reliable methods for effective ORA and evaluations. The main contribution of this thesis is to apply Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) and Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes (TAN) classifier as standard tools for identifying OR, and measuring OR exposure level. In addition, a new ORA methodology is proposed which consists of four major steps: a risk model, assessment approach, analysis approach and a risk assessment process. Further, a new ORA framework and measurement metrics are proposed with six factors: frequency of triggering event, effectiveness of avoidance barriers, frequency of undesirable operational state, effectiveness of recovery barriers before the risk outcome, approximate cost for Undesirable Operational State (UOS) occurrence, and severity of the risk outcome. The study results were reported based on surveys conducted with Nigerian senior banking officers and banking customers. The study revealed that the framework and assessment tools gave good predictions for risk learning and inference in such systems. Thus, results obtained can be considered promising and useful for both E-banking system adopters and future researchers in this area.

The construction industry has been hesitant for a long time to apply new technologies. In property development, the industry relies heavily on employees bringing experience from one project to another. These employees learn to manage risks in connection with the acquisition of land, but when these people retire, the knowledge disappears. An AI-based decision-support system that takes the risks and the market into account when acquiring land can learn from each project and bring this knowledge into future projects. In facility management, artificial intelligence could increase the efficiency of the allocation of staff in the ongoing operations. The purpose of the study is to analyse how companies in the real estate industry can improve their decision-making with the help of AI in property development and property management. In this study, two case studies of two different players in the real estate industry have been performed. One player, Bygg-Fast, represents property development and the other player, VGR, represents facility management. The study is based on interviews, discussions, and collected data. By mapping and then quantifying the risks and market indicators that are input data in the process, a basis can be created. The data can be used for a model that lays the foundation for an AI-based decision support system that will help the property developer to make calculated decisions in the land acquisition process. By mapping what a flow through a property looks like, measuring points can be set out to analyse how long the activities take in the specific business. These measured values provide a collection of data that makes it easier to plan the activities conducted in the property. A more efficient flow can be achieved by visualizing the entire process so staff can be allocated to the right part of the flow. By being flexible and being able to re-plan the business quickly if planning is disrupted, a high level of efficiency can be achieved. This could be done by an AI-based decision support system that simulates alternative day plans. / Byggbranschen har länge varit tveksamt till att applicera nya tekniker. Inom fastighetsutveckling bygger branschen mycket på att anställda tar med sig erfarenheter från ett projekt till ett annat. Dessa anställda lär sig hantera risker i samband med förvärv av mark men när dessa personer slutar eller går i pension försvinner kunskapen. Ett AI baserat beslutssystem som tar risk och marknad i beaktning vid förvärv av mark kan lära sig av varje projekt och ta med dessa kunskaper till framtida projekt. Inom fastighetsförvaltning skulle artificiell intelligens kunna effektivisera allokerandet av personal i den pågående verksamheten. Syftet med studien är att analysera hur företag i fastighetsbranschen kan förbättra sitt beslutstagande med hjälp av AI i utveckling av fastigheter samt fastighetsförvaltning. I denna studien har två fallstudier av två olika aktörer i fastighetsbranschen utförts. Ena aktören, Bygg-Fast, representerar fastighetsutveckling och den andra aktören, VGR, representerar fastighetsförvaltning. Studien bygger på intervjuer, diskussioner och insamlade data. Genom att kartlägga och sedan kvantifiera de risker samt marknadsindikatorer som är indata i processen kan ett underlag skapas. Underlaget kan användas för en modell som lägger grunden för ett AI baserat beslutsstödsystem som ska hjälpa fastighetsutvecklaren med att ta kalkylerade beslut i mark förvärvsprocessen. Genom att kartlägga hur ett flöde genom en fastighet ser ut kan mätpunkter sättas ut för att analysera hur lång tid aktiviteterna tar i den specifika verksamheten. Dessa mätvärden ger en samlad data som gör det lättare att planera verksamheten som bedrivs i fastigheten. Ett effektivare flöde kan uppnås genom att visualisera hela processen så personal kan allokeras till rätt del av flödet. Genom att vara flexibel och kunna planera om verksamheten snabbt ifall planering störs kan en hög effektivitet nås. Detta skulle kunna göras av ett AI baserat beslutsstödsystem som simulerar alternativa dagsplaneringar.