BA 450

Decision Support Systems The Concept of DSS

Decision support systems couple the

Chapter III: Decision Support Systems
Development
Salah BENABDALLAH, PhD
Fall Semester, 2023-2024
intellectual resources 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.

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Formel Definition of DSS…

Formel Definition of DSS
A Decision Support System (DSS) refers to
Broadly speaking, a DSS is just a computer
a computerized system that assists
system that helps you make a decision.
decision maker by combining data,
sophisticated analytical models and
tools, and user-friendly software into a
powerful system to solve semi-
structured and unstructured
problems.

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 A Generic DSS A Generic DSS…

Database Database :
 Files
 Records
Analytical Methods
Data Processor  Data elements
 External data
 Internal data
Interface

USER
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A Generic DSS… A Generic DSS…

Analytical Methods:
Data Processor and Management :  Mathematical Programming
 Data definition;  Queuing Theory
 Data manipulation;  Reliability and Quality Control
 Data integrity;  Simulation
 Access Control;  Inventory Theory
 Concurrency Control;  Forecasting
 Transaction Recovery.  Heuristics
 Expert Systems
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 DSS Types
A Generic DSS…

User Interface :
Degree
of
problem
 Communication Language; Retrieve Analyze Prepare Estimate Propose Make solving
information entire reports decision decisions decisions support
 Presentation Language. elements files from
multiple
consequence
-ces
files

Degree of
Little Much
complexity of the
problem-solving
system
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DSS Benefits DSS Limitations

 Facilitating more effective decisions
 Extending the decision makers ability to
tackle large-scale, time-
consuming,complex problems
 Shortening the time for making a
decision
 Improve reliability and consistency
 Promoting learning & exploration
 Increasing organizational control
 Lack of human talents and intelligence
 Inadequate understanding of task or user
 Inadequate modeling of “reality”
 Inadequate understanding of human
information processing constraints
 Narrow scope;

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 DSS Development Process The Traditional Systems
Development Life Cycle
(SDLC) (Waterfall)
Decision Support Systems are usually
designed to handle complex situations, and This method called waterfall method or
not many are available off the shelf. SDLC consists of four fundamental phases –
Instead, DSS must be custom-designed, planning, analysis, design, and
developed, and implemented for each implementation.
application.

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The Traditional Systems The Traditional Systems

Development Life Cycle Development Life Cycle
(SDLC) (Waterfall)… (SDLC) (Waterfall)…
Each phase consists of a series of steps,
The method is a cycle because it is possible which rely on techniques that produce
to return to any phase from any other. deliverables. The four fundamental SDLC
However ideally, it is to follow each phase phases are:
in order. All projects must go through these  Planning,
phases.  Analysis,
 Design, and
 Implementation.
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 Traditional Systems Development Life
Cycle (SDLC) (Waterfall)… Fundamental SDLC Phases
Need
 Planning
Planning  Analysis
 Design
Analysis
 Implementation
Design

Implementation
Steps and deliverables follow
System
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Planning Analysis
Why Build the System?
Who, What, When, Where?

Step Deliverable Step Deliverable

1. Identify business value System request
2. Analyze feasibility Feasibility study 6. Analyze problem Analysis plan
3. Develop work plan Work plan
4. Staff project Staffing plan, 7. Gather information Information
Project charter
5. Control and direct project Project management tools 8. Model process(es) Process model
CASE tool
Standards list 9. Model data Data model
Project binders / files
Risk assessment

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 Design Implementation
How Will the System Work? System Delivery

Step Deliverable
Step Deliverable
10. Design physical system Design plan
15. Construction Test plan,
11. Design architecture Architecture design,
Programs,
Infrastructure design
Documentation
12. Design interface Interface design
16. Installation Conversion plan,
13. Design database and files Data storage design
Training plan
14. Design program(s) Program design

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Skills for Project Management Project Management (PM)

Many DSS development projects are large-scale systems.
Such systems are developed by teams. The team leader, in  Team leader must have good PM skills
this case, must have good project management skills.
These skills are need for the success of the project. The
 Major reason for IS development failures-bad PM
PM should have: skills
 Lower success rates for large companies
 a good technology and business knowledge,  Better PM skills needed
 good judgment skills,
 good negotiation skills,
 good communication skills, and
 an organization spirit.

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 DSS vs Business Intelligence DSS vs Business Intelligence…

DSS application The goal of Business Intelligence (BI) is to

A DSS program built for a specific purpose (e.g., a
scheduling system for a specific company)
Business Intelligence (BI)
A conceptual framework for decision support. It
combines architecture, databases (or data
warehouses), analytical tools, and applications.
provide managers with information about the
business in time to allow them to make decisions
that can solve problems and take advantage of
opportunities.
In other words, Business Intelligence allows
managers to manage better.

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DSS Characteristics and DSS Characteristics and

Capabilities Capabilities…
 Support for individuals as well as groups
The key characteristics and capabilities of
 Support for interdependent and/or
DSS:
sequential decisions
 Support for decision makers, mainly in
 Support in all phases of the decision-
semi-structured and unstructured
making process
situations, by bringing together human
 Support for a variety of decision-making
judgment and computerized information
processes and styles
 Support for all managerial levels, ranging
from top executives to line managers
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 DSS Characteristics and
Capabilities…
 DSS are flexible, so users can add, delete,
combine, change, or rearrange basic
elements; DSS can be readily modified to
solve other, similar problems
 User-friendliness, strong graphical
capabilities, and a natural language
interactive human–machine interface can
greatly increase the effectiveness of DSS
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DSS Characteristics and
Capabilities…
 Models are generally utilized to analyze
decision-making situations
 Access is provided to a variety of data
sources, formats, and types
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DSS Characteristics and
Capabilities…
 Improved effectiveness of decision making
 The decision maker has complete control
over all steps of the decision-making
process in solving a problem
 End users are able to develop and modify
simple systems by themselves
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DSS Characteristics and
Capabilities…
 Can be employed as a standalone tool
used by an individual decision maker in
one location or distributed throughout an
organization and in several organizations
along the supply chain
 Can be integrated with other DSS and/or
applications, and it can be distributed
internally and externally, using networking
and Web technologies
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 The User
The person faced with a decision that a
DSS is designed to support is called the
user, the manager, or the decision maker
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The User…
Expert tool user: A person who is
skilled in the application of one or more
types of specialized problem-solving tools
Business (system) analysts: An
individual whose job is to analyze business
processes and the support they receive (or
need) from information technology
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The User…
Management Support Systems (MSS) has
two broad classes of users: managers and
staff specialists:
 Staff specialists use the system much
more frequently than manager and tend
to be more detail-oriented
 Staff analysts are often intermediaries
between managers and the MSS
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The User…
Facilitators (in a GSS): A person who
plans, organizes, and electronically controls
a group in a collaborative computing
environment
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