Deci sion Suppo rt

Sy ste ms
 Definitions of a Decision
Support System
General definition - a system providing both
problem-solving and communications capabilities
for semistructured problems
Specific definition - a system that supports a
single manager or a relatively small group of
managers working as a problem-solving team in
the solution of a semistructured problem by
providing information or making suggestions
concerning specific decisions.
 Decision Making
■ Simon’s types of decisions
– Programmed
– Nonprogrammed
■ Simon’s phases (activities) of decision
making
– Intelligence
– Design
– Choice
– Review
 The Decision Support System
Concept
■ Gory and Scott-Morton coined the phrase
‘DSS’ in 1971, about ten years after MIS
became popular
■ Structured problems could be solved by
algorithms and decision rules
■ Unstructured problems have no structure in
Simon’s phases
■ Semistructured problems have structured
and unstructured phases
 The Gorry and Scott Morton Grid
Management levels
Operational Management Strategic
control control planning
Structured Accounts Budget analysis-- Tanker fleet
receivable engineered costs mix
Degree of Order entry Short-term Warehouse and
problem forecasting factory location
structure Inventory
control

Semistructured Production Variance analysis-- Mergers and

scheduling overall budget acquisitions
Cash Budget
management New product
preparation planning
PERT/COST Sales and
Unstructured systems R&D planning
production
 Alter’s DSS Types
■ The least degree of problem-solving support
comes from retrieval of information
elements
■ More support comes from retrieving
information files
■ Still more support comes from reports from
multiple files
 Alter’s DSS Types (continued)
■ Even more support from systems that can
estimate decision consequences
■ More support from systems that can
propose decisions
■ And the most support comes from systems
that can make decisions
 Alter’s DSS Types

Degree
of
problem
Retrieve Analyze Prepare Estimate Propose Make solving
information entire reports decision decisions decisions support
elements files from consequen-
multiple ces
files

Degree of
Little Much
complexity of the
problem-solving
system
The DSS Focuses on Semistructured Problems

Computer Manager + Computer Manager

Solution (DSS) Solution
Solution

Structured Semistructured Unstructured

DEGREE OF PROBLEM STRUCTURE
 Peter Keen Believes That
a DSS Should:
1. Assist in solving semistructured
problems
2. Support, not replace, the manager
3. Contribute to decision effectiveness,
rather than efficiency
A DSS Model
Environment
Individual Other
problem group
solvers members

Report GDSS
Mathematical GDSS
writing software
Models software
software

Database

Decision
support
system
Environment
Data Communication Information
Legend:
 Contents of the Database are
Used by Three Software
Subsystems

■ Report writers (including COBOL)

■ Mathematical models
■ GDSS -- contributes to communications
effectiveness
Group Decision Support Systems
■ Definition - a computer-based system that
supports groups of people engaged in a
common task (or goal) and that provides an
interface to a shared environment.
■ GDSS is used in problem solving
■ Electronic meeting system (EMS) is used
for group interaction of all kinds. Example
JAD session.
 GDSS Environmental Settings
■ Asynchronous exchange as well as
synchronous exchange of information
■ There is less wasted time.
■ There is more balanced participation.
Group Size and Location Determine
GDSS Environmental Settings
GROUP SIZE
Smaller Larger

Face-to- Decision Legislative

face
Room Session
MEMBER
PROXIMITY Local Area Computer-
Dispersed Decision Mediated
Network Conference
 GDSS example: U. of Arizona's
Group System (Groupware)
■ Electronic brainstorming (EBS) program
■ Parallel communication
■ Anonymity
– Idea Organizer
– Vote program
 Groupware
■ Functions - electronic mail, FAX, voice
messaging, internet access, and others
■ Lotus Notes has been a particularly popular
groupware product
 Main Groupware Functions
IBM TeamWARE Lotus Novell
Function Workgroup Office Notes GroupWise
Electronic mail X X X X
FAX X X O X
Voice messaging O X
Internet access X X O X
Bulletin board system X 3 O
Personal calendaring X X 3 X
Group calendaring X X O X
Electronic conferencing O X 3 3
Task management X X 3 X
Desktop video conferencingO
Database access O X 3
Workflow routing O X 3 X
Reengineering O X 3
Electronic forms O 3 3 O
Group documents O X X O
X = standard feature O = optional feature 3 = third party offering
 A Groupware Strategy
■ Orientation session to familiarize the group
to the groupware
■ Implementation tips
– designate a groupware champion
– pick a pilot project
– define the problem
– select the groupware
 Groupware Implementation
Corporate
Company culture Individual
politics resistance

1.
Designate a
groupware champion

2.
Pick a pilot project

3.
Define the problem

4.
Select the groupware