Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Business Management Practice Test

Which system is defined as a program that provides specialized advice without requiring user judgment?

1. Expert system

2. Executive information system

3. Decision-support system

4. Analytical platform

The correct answer is: Expert system

An expert system is designed to emulate the decision-making ability of a human expert in a specific field. It operates by using a predefined set of rules and knowledge extracted from domain experts to provide solutions or recommendations. Importantly, expert systems function independently of the user's judgment, delivering advice based solely on programmed logic and data. This makes them particularly useful in scenarios where rapid decision-making is required, and where relying on human judgment could lead to inconsistency or delay. In contrast, an executive information system primarily focuses on delivering top executives quick access to internal and external information relevant to their strategic goals, but it does not provide the specialized advice found in expert systems. A decision-support system helps users facilitate decision-making by combining data and analytical tools, but it generally requires user input and judgment in interpreting the results. An analytical platform, while useful for processing and analyzing data, does not specifically provide advice in the same structured manner as an expert system. Thus, the defining feature of providing specialized advice without requiring user judgment is what makes the expert system the correct answer.