Decision support systems: design and applications

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are designed to help organizational decision makers make decisions. DSS usually have three major components: a database, a model base, and a dialogue module.

The database contains data relevant to the decision to be made.

The model base contains one or more models that can be used to analyze the decision situation.

The dialogue module provides a way for the decision maker, usually a non-technical manager, to communicate with the DSS.

By running the data and possible decisions through one or more models, the decision maker can compare possible solutions to the problem at hand. The DSS allows the manager to test or propose different solutions and see what the results may be before committing to any particular model.

The first decision support systems were designs to support individual decision makers. When computing technology was more primitive and more difficult for non-technical people to use, an intermediary often used the DSS for the manager. The intermediary was usually a staff person who had the computer skills the manager lacked to work with the DSS. The manager would then use the output to help decide which course of action to take. Due to early technical limitations, each individual or specific DSS had to be designed and built one at a time. Now, many decision support systems run on microcomputers. The models are relatively easy to construct, change, and interpret using such software programs as electronic spreadsheets. Tools like spreadsheets and fourth generation languages are called DSS Generators because they are general-purpose tools that can be used to develop many specific DSS with relatives.

Characteristics of Decision Support Systems

Decision Support Systems allow the decision maker to interact with them in a natural manner by virtue of the careful design of the user interface. Useful DSS will challenge and eventually change decision makers. By contrast, management information systems (MIS) provide output but no real impetus for change in the person receiving it. Interacting with DSS will provide to be new and challenging for most decision makers and will provide new perspective on the decision making process that are attractive and understandable yet innovative. By furnishing a new way to see problems and opportunities DSS eventually change the users decision-making process and, along with it, the user.

Decision Support systems are designed to help support decisions involving complex problems that are formulated as semi-structured. Because such problems remain resistant to complete computerization, a solution per se is not the goal of DSS; instead they support the decision process that leads to a solution.