Supporting Decision Making via Verbalization of Data Analysis Results Using Linguistic Data Summaries

We present how the conceptually and numerically simple concept of a fuzzy linguistic database summary can be a very powerful tool for gaining much insight into the essence of data that may be relevant for a business activity. The use of linguistic summaries provides tools for the verbalization of data analysis (mining) results which, in addition to the more commonly used visualization e.g. via a GUI, graphical user interface, can contribute to an increased human consistency and ease of use. The results (knowledge) derived are in a simple, easily comprehensible linguistic form which can be effectively and efficiently employed for supporting decision makers via the data driven decision support system paradigm. Two new relevant aspects of the analysis are also outlined which was first initiated by the authors. First, following Kacprzyk and Zadrożny (2009a) comments are given on an extremely relevant aspect of scalability of linguistic summarization of data, using their new concept of a conceptual scalability that is crucial for large applications. Second, following Kacprzyk and Zadrożny (2009b) it is further considered how linguistic data summarization is closely related to some types of solutions used in natural language generation (NLG), which can make it possible to use more and more effective and efficient tools and techniques developed in this another rapidly developing area. An application for a computer retailer is outlined.