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 * Decision Tables**

**Introduction**
A decision table is a two-dimensional matrix with one row for each possible action and one row for each relevant condition and one column for each combination of condition states. The first set of rows indicates the possible actions that may be taken. An "X" in an action row shows that the action will be taken under the condition states indicated in the column below. A decision table can show complex conditions and their resulting actions in a very short and clear way while being quite comprehensible tool.

**Examples of Desicion Tables**
To give an example of the use of a decision table, a set of services provided by **FedEx** and **UPS** logistics companies were used.

**Federal Express (FedEx)**
FedEx is a [|logistics] services company, based in the USA. Previously was called Federal Express, Federal Express Corporation, and FDX Corporation.The company was founded as Federal Express in 1971 by Fred Smith in Little Rock Arkansas.

Intitialy FedEX was providing services within the United States only. Starting from the year 1981 the company provides international services. In the later years FedEx acquiered a number of foreign services and has grown into multinational brand serving in nearly 220 countries worldwide and with a net income of over $2 billion (2007)

The following services are provided for sending a parcel to Russian Federation (included in the Decision Table below):
 * 1) FedEx International Priority EuroOne Service
 * 2) FedEx International Economy
 * 3) FedEx International First Flight
 * 4) FedEx International Economy + Saturday pick up fee

The FedEx packages: The decision table will provide and easy and comprehensive way of choosing among the listed above services as well as the appropriate pack.
 * 1) FedExEnvelope
 * 2) FedEx Pak
 * 3) FedEx Tube
 * 4) FedEx Small Box
 * 5) FedExLarge Box

**UPS**
United Parcel Service, Inc. ([|NYSE]: [|UPS]), commonly referred to as **UPS**, is one of the world's largest [|package delivery] companies. UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Since 2005, its operations include logistics and other transportation-related areas. It has been headquartered in [|Sandy Springs, Georgia], USA since 1991. As for year 2008 UPS employs more than 480 000 employees and has a net revenue of $382 million.

The decision table #2 below will use another criterias. It will help to determine the tarrifs of sending parcel of a certain weight to a certain destination. UPS uses the system of Zones for destination qualification.