Part 3The PIC Model:

Ways of Implementation Itamar GatiThe Hebrew University Jerusalem

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In this part I will briefly

Demonstrate MBCD - an Internet-based interactive career-planning system based on the PIC model  

Discuss the desirable features of Internet-based career–planning systems, and examine the extent to which MBCD conforms to these features

Discuss the importance and implications of computer-assisted career-guidance systems for career counseling

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The Challenge

Career decision-making requires collecting a vast amount of information

Luckily, Information and Communication Technologies are available.

The use of a computer-assisted career guidance system based on the theoretical model can help overcome cognitive limitations.

There are several computer-assisted career guidance systems available, most of them on the Internet.

One of them is MBCD

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MBCD Making Better Career Decisions

MBCD is an Internet-based career planning system that is a unique combination of a career-information system a decision-making support system an expert system

designed to help deliberating individuals make better career decisions

The dialogue is divided into distinct stages, corresponding to the PIC model stages

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MBCD’s Key Features (cont.)

Separating the relative importance of aspects from within-aspect preferences.

For example, important aspects can also be aspects in which the optimal level is “none”

Eliciting both facets of the individual’s preferences:

a) the optimal levelb) additional levels that the user regards as acceptable

(reflecting the user’s willingness to compromise)

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MBCD’s Key Features (cont.)

Each occupation is characterized by a range of levels within each aspect, reflecting the within-occupation variance.

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MBCD’s Key Features (cont.)

The system provides detailed feedback and recommendations according to the user’s input and its effect on the search results

The dialogue is flexible and the users can change their responses at any point

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MBCD’s Key Features (cont.)

Promising alternatives are located by the Sequential-Elimination search model (Gati, 1986).

But the user can also use a compensatory-model-based search.

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MBCD’s Key Features (cont.)

Options to check the quality of the list of “promising occupations”, including:

“Almost compatible occupations” (i.e., sensitivity analysis)

“Why not” “What if” “Similar occupations” “Compare Occupations”

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MBCD’s Features (cont.)

Initial in-depth explorations is offered by detailed occupational descriptions

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MBCD’s Features (cont.)

The conclusion of the dialogue: the user receives a printed summary to

take along for further processing of the information. The printout also provides information for the counselor.

The user’s preferences are saved under a personalized code for future interactions.

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The next session will address the million dollar question:

Does it really work?

End part 3

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