1. DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS
An introduction…..

2. What concepts are involved?
DECISION MAKING
The nature of decision making
Different types of decisions
The need for quality information
SUPPORT
Recognition of importance of human role
Which types of decision?
Improve decision making quality

3. What concepts are involved?
SYSTEM THEORY: A collection of units that work together to achieve a common purpose/ objective
Info Decision making Decision
(INPUTS) PROCESSES (OUTPUT )

4. NEED FOR COMPUTERISED DECISION SUPPORT
UNSTABLE ECONOMY/ WORKPLACE- Not able to rely on past habits and choices
EXPANDING NATURE OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS - unmanageable tracking tasks
The Benefits :
SPEED
IMPROVED STORAGE (MEMORY CAPABILITIES)
EASED COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
QUALITY
COMPETITIVE EDGE
COST?

5. DSS DEFINITIONS:
“Decision support systems are interactive computer based systems which help decision makers utilise data and models to solve unstructured problems”
( Gorry and Scott Morton 1971)
“ DSS couple the intellectual resources of individuals of individuals with the capabilities of the computer to improve the quality of decisions. It is a computer based support system for management decision makers who
deal with semi structured problems”
(Keen and Scott Morton 1978)
No universally accepted definition
DSS as an evolving concept
DSS as an umbrella term

6. WORKING DEFINITION OF A DSS
“ A DSS is an interactive, flexible and adaptable CBIS specially developed for supporting the solution of a non structured management problem for improved decision making. It uses data, provides an easy user interface and can incorporate the decision maker’s own insights.
In addition, a DSS may use models, is built by an interactive process (often by end users), supports all phases of decision making and may include a knowledge component.”
(Efraim Turban & Jaye Aronson, 2001)

7. THE DDM PARADIGM Sprague and Carlson – 1982
A move towards a consistent and practical definition………
The technology for a DSS must consist of 3 sets of capabilities in the areas of:
Data
Dialog
Modelling

8. THE DDM PARADIGM Variety of Analysis and modelling data capabilities
Database Model base
management management
system (DBMS) system (MBMS)
Dialog generation
management system (DGMS)
USERS

9. Source: Oz “Management Information Systems” Text

10. EVOLUTION OF DSS DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS (DSS)- 1980s
Data Processing -1960s
Management Science- 1970s Management Information Systems (MIS)- 1970s
DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS (DSS)- 1980s
Expert systems (ES)- 1980s/ 1990s
Executive information systems (EIS)- 1980s/ 1990s
Group decision support systems (GDSS)- 1990s
Neural networks (ANNs)- 1990s
More intelligence/ better connectivity/
integrated architecture/ document data – 2000s

11. OVERVIEW OF MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Management Science
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
Executive Information Systems (EIS)
Expert Systems (ES)
knowledge Management Systems (KMS)
Management Information Systems
(MIS)