Why option generation matters for the design of autonomous e-coaching systems
Autonomous e-coaching systems offer their users suggestions for action, thereby affecting the users decision-making process. More specifically, the suggestions that these systems make influence the options for action that people actually consider. Surprisingly though, options and the corresponding process of option generationa decision-making stage preceding intention formation and action selectionhave received very little attention in the various disciplines studying decision making. We argue that this neglect is unjustified and that it is important, particularly for designers of autonomous e-coaching systems, to understand how human option generation works. The aims of this paper are threefold. The first aim is to generate awareness with designers of autonomous e-coaching systems that these systems do in fact influence their users options. The second is to show that understanding the interplay between a persons options and the e-coaching systems suggestions is important for improving the effectiveness of the system. The third is that the very same interplay is also crucial for designing e-coaching systems that respect peoples autonomy.
option generation e-coaching decision making effectiveness autonomy ethics