Week 1Reference (chapter 1 in text book

(1))

Dr. Fadi Fayez JaberUpdated By: Ola A.Younis

Decision Support System

What is Decision Support System (DSS)?A computer-based information system that

supports business or organizational decision-making activities. DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization (usually mid and higher management) and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance. Decision support systems can be either fully computerized, human or a combination of both.

DSS Common Characteristics

Employed in semi-structured or unstructured decision context.

Intend to support decision makers rather than replace them.

Focuses on the effectiveness of decision making process rather than the efficiency.

Support all phases of decision making process.Uses underlying data and models.Facilitates learning on the part of the decision

making.Interactive and user friendly.Provide supports for all levels of management.Provide support for individuals, groups.

History of DSS and its Potential Future

HistoryThe theoretical studies of organizational decision

making done at the Carnegie Institute of Technology during the late 1950s and early 1960s*.

The technical work on Technology in the 1960s*.DSS became an area of research of its own in the

middle of the 1970s, before gaining in intensity during the 1980s*.

FutureManagers will rely on powerful DSS applications in

performing their daily activitiesDSS will serve as the primary vehicle for keeping

up with the exponential growth, complexity and speed of business activities * Wiki

DSS Benefits

Extend the decision makers ability to process information and knowledge.

Extend the decision makers ability to tackle large-scale, time-consuming and complex problems.

Shorten the time associated with making the decision.

Improve the reliability of a decision process or outcome.

Encourage exploration and discovery on the part of the decision maker.

Reveal new approaches to thinking about the problem space or decision context.

DSS Limitations

DSSs cannot yet be designed to contain distinctly human decision-making talents such as creativity.

The power of DSS is limited by computer science upon which is running.

DSS interfaces are not yet sophisticated enough to allow for natural language processing of users inquiries.

DSSs are designed to be narrow in the scope of applications.

DSS Basic Components

The Data Management System.Model Management System.Knowledge Engine.User Interface.Users.

Data Management System Database organises the data into logical hierarchy based on

the degree of aggregation of the data. The hierarchy consists of four elements

Database Files Records Data Elements

Database Management Systems (DBMS) manages and organises the access and operations on the database

DBMS has two primary responsibilities: Coordination of tasks related to storing and accessing

information in the database and delivering information to the DSS users

The maintenance of logical independence between the data contained in the DSS database and the DSS application

Main Functions of the DBMSData Definition and extractionData ManipulationData IntegrityAccess controlConcurrency ControlTransaction Recovery

Model Management Sub-System (MMSS)

A model: is a simplification of some event or process constructed for the purpose of studying that event in order to better understand it

Two primary responsibilities:Execution and integration of the models available to the

DSS Modelling of users preferences

MMSS is composed of: 1- Model base 2- Model base management system. 3- Modelling language. 4- Model directory. 5- Model execution, integration and command processor.

DSS Knowledge Base All decisions require reasoning Reasoning : the process by which new information is derived

from existing data or information Knowledge base is where the “knowledge” of the DSS is

stored Knowledge can be represented as simple if-then rules,

heuristics, previous outcomes or information that may have been programmed into the DSS by the designer

Information in the knowledge base can be categorised into 2 groups:Facts: What we know is true at a given timeHypotheses: The rule or relationships that exist between facts.

Decision support system that includes KBS is called intelligent DSS.

DSS User Interfaces An interface: a component of a system intended to allow the

user to access the internal components of that system DSS interface is responsible for all communication and

interaction with the user(s) DSS interface components

Software components, i.e. menus and command interfaces Hardware components, i.e. input facility and multiple monitoring Factors related to Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Accessibility, user skill level, reporting and error capture

Some MSS experts feels that the user interface is the most important component… why????

General Functions of DSS Interface Allow the interaction with DSS in a variety of dialog styles Identify the form of input to enter request to the DSS Provide support for communication among multiple DSS users Can capture and analyse previous dialogs so that future

interactions can be improve

DSS User Interfaces (Cont.)The Presentation Language :

it’s the place where all actions is. In other words, it is everything where the user can sees, hears or experience during DSS use.

Output devices such as printers, audio monitors, etcOn-screen methods such as tables, graphs, charts,

icons, ect, are all part of this component modes.

General Functions of the Presentation LanguageProvides for the presentation of data in different

formsAllow for detailed report definition and generationAllow for the creation of multiple forms, tables,

graphs, etcCan provide multiple windows or views of data

The User

Different usage patterns for the user, the manager, or the decision maker

Managers Staff specialists Intermediaries

1. Staff assistant2. Expert tool user3. Business (system) analyst4. GSS Facilitator

DSS Hardware Evolved with computer hardware and

software technologies

Major Hardware Options Mainframe Workstation Personal computer Web server system

InternetIntranetsExtranets

Distinguishing DSS from Management Science and

MIS

DSS is a problem-solving tool and is frequently used to address ad hoc and unexpected problems

Different than MIS DSS evolve as they develop

Categories and Classes of DSS

Data-centric and model-centric DSSsFormal and Ad hoc systemsDirected versus non-directed DSSsProcedural and non-procedural systemsHypertext systemsSpread sheet systemsIndividual and group DSSs