What Is a Decision Support System (DSS)?

A decision support system (DSS) is a computer-based application that collects, organizes and
analyzes data to facilitate quality business decision-making for management, operations and
planning. A well-designed DSS aids decision makers in compiling a variety of data from many
sources: raw data, documents, personal knowledge from employees, management, executives
and business models. DSS analysis helps companies to identify and solve problems, and make
decisions. In short it is used to support decision-making in an organization or a business by
providing Decision maker with well organized data. DSS allows for more informed decision-
making, timely problem-solving, and improved efficiency for dealing with problems with rapidly
changing variables.DSS first gathers and Analyzes Data so that Companies can make important
decisions . The DSS can be used by operations management and other planning levels in an
organization to compile information and data and to synthesize it into actionable intelligence.
This allows the end user to make more informed decisions at a quicker pace. DSS is primarily
used by mid- to upper-level management and is key for understanding large amounts of data.
The primary purpose of using a DSS is to present information to the customer in an easy-to-
understand way. A DSS system is beneficial because it can be programmed to generate many
types of reports, all based on user specifications.

Example of DSS

A Global MNC has operation in various different countries. They have warehouses in all these
locations and daily hundreds of transactions happen, In order to Take right Decisions in regards
to Goods in Warehouse a Data Warehouse System (DSS) Can be of great help. Data
warehousing software (DSS) runs the databases that make up a company's data related to
warehouse. A Data warehouse software (DSS) will add data to the existing database and run
queries that pull data sets for executive analysis. It can also Show results in Very presentable
and easy to understand format. All this data can be accessed by the Owner or decision maker to
take business decision on Getting Information from the software via dashboard. With Correct
and Especially real time hold over data, Decision Maker can get a lot of help to take correct
Decision. The DSS Can Give data regarding flow of Goods, Consumer Demand , Supply Shortfalls
and various other parameters .All these Parameters can Help Decision maker to Take Well
informed Decisions regarding his Enterprise.

Submitted by :
Ajinkya Daterao
MBA05113