________________
parameter called the coefficient of interference. Yukalov and Sornette (2008, 2009a, b, c) provide a detailed theory called quantum decision theory (CDT). Using the postulates analogous to the postulates of quantum mechanics, they derive the quantum interference equations that relate various experimental probabilities.
To explain the same disjunction effect, Pothos and Busemeyer (2009) consider the evolution of the state of mind using an equation analogous to Schrodinger's "time-dependent wave equation of quantum mechanics. The duration of time and the interaction parameters have been considered as adjustable parameters. For comparison, they also study the evolution of the state of mind using the equivalent Markov (classical) model, and found that their Markov (classical) model could not explain the experimentally observed violations of the surething principle of Savage (1954), whereas the quantum model could explain them. In a quantum decision model discussed in detail in $2, we employ various aspects of the quantum decision theory of Yukalov and Sornette (2009a) but consider more general and simpler kinds of operators to derive the same quantum interference equation as derived by Yukalov and Sornette (2009a), so that the range of applicability may widen and it becomes easier to apply to other related problems. Further, to demonstrate the possibility of application of the quantum approach to other decision problems, we consider an example of the problem of a merger of two business firms. It may be a long way to arrive at a successful and valuable outcome of the application of a quantum model to the problem of merger of two business firms. However, here we shall simply introduce the problem to familiarize the reader with the notations and application of the quantum models in this area.
Paras M. Agrawal is an emeritus research faculty in the Department of Management Science and Information Systems in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. He taught quantum mechanics to graduate students as a lecturer/professor of physics in India for more than a decade. His publications include a book chapter on quantum mechanics, and research articles on quantum wave packets, quantum scattering, quantum chemistry, mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo simulations. The original paper was with Prof. Ramesh Sharda who is Director of the Institute for Research in Information Systems (IRIS), ConocoPhillips Chair of Management of Technology, and a Regents Professor of Management Science and Information Systems in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University.
106
