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An empirical probability-based strategy model for individual decision-making under time pressure when rescheduling daily activities

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Abstract

Generally, during the execution of the daily activity schedule, there is a mismatch between the plan and the reality. Faced with unexpected events, which affect the schedule, individuals need to reschedule their activities. In such situations, time is a crucial factor when rescheduling, as people feel time pressure because of the time constraints. Consequently, the rescheduling decision is made under the individual’s perceived time pressure (\({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\)). \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\) does depend on not only the actual time pressure but also the individual’s characteristics. This paper aims to establish a model to simulate the individual decision behavior under \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\). Under different levels of \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\), individuals will choose different strategies to make the final decision based on their own characteristics. Our model proposes three decision strategies: optimal strategy under low-level \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\), salient strategy under medium-level \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\), and experience under high-level \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\). In addition, this paper argues that the choice probabilities within each strategy are affected by the empirical probabilities. The proposed strategy model for individuals’ rescheduling choices under \({\varvec{P}\!\varvec{T}\!\varvec{P}}\) is validated by running several experiments.

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Funding

This research is supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 72171172 and 62088101; in part by Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology, China Major Project under grant 2021SHZDZX0100; in part by Shanghai Research Institute of China Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy, Strategic Research and Consulting Project, under grant 2022-DFZD-33-02; and in part by Chinese Academy of Engineering, Strategic Research and Consulting Program, under grant 2022-XY-100.

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Hui Zhao built the model and wrote the paper. Igor H. Tchappi made significant amendments to the content. Yazan Mualla and Stéphane Galland reviewed the paper content and checked the final version of the paper. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Hui Zhao.

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Zhao, H., Tchappi, I., Mualla, Y. et al. An empirical probability-based strategy model for individual decision-making under time pressure when rescheduling daily activities. Pers Ubiquit Comput 27, 1717–1727 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-023-01743-y

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