PRESENTATION: DECISION SUPPORT

SYSTEM
 Group Members:

 Ahmad Raza Roll no. 007

 M. Rashid Roll no. 067
 Asad Bashir Roll no. 019
 Irfan Khalid Roll no. 136

COMSATS INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY
LAHORE.
DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DSS)

Decision Support System is a system that provides

tools to managers to assist them in solving semi-
structured and structured problems.
A DSS is not intended to make decisions for
managers.
A DSS supports the human decision-making
process.
 Systems that replace human decision
making- rather than support it are called
programmed decision systems.
EXAMPLE
 A writer, a selected group of journal and text
resources at a local library – and a strategy for
using those resources – may serve as part of a
decision support system.
DSS Goals and Applications

 Decision support systems are characterized

by at least three properties:
 They support semi-structured or un-
structured decision making.
 They are flexible enough to respond to the
changing needs of decision makers.
 They are easy to use.
Structured Decisions
 Structured decisions are those that are easily make
from a given set of inputs.
 E.g; issue a reminder notice if a bill is overdue or
deciding to sell a stock under a given set of market
conditions, can be programmed fairly easily.
Semi-structured and unstructured
decisions

 Semi-structured and unstructured

decisions are decisions for which
information obtained from a
computer system is only a portion
of the total knowledge needed to
make the decision.
Figure: Steps in solving a problem with a DSS

Define and formulate problem

Frame problem into DSS model

Use Model to obtain results

Reformulate problem
CAPABILITIES OF DSS
A DSS provides support for decision
maker at all management levels
 It supports all phases of decision making
process-intelligence-design and choice
 It promotes learning.
 It is adaptable by the user over time to
deal with changing condition
PROPERTIES OF DECISION SUPPORT
SYSTEM

 Support for semi-structured and un-structured

decision making.
 Flexibility in specifying output requirements.

 Ease of use and ease of development for non-

professionals.
 Fast response.
PROPERTIES OF DSS (CONT.)
 Middle or top management focus.
 Use of models

 Focus on managerial effectiveness, rather than

efficiency.
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A DSS

DSS Model
Software Base
Models
Data Base - Financial
- Statistical analysis
Graphical - Graphical
Interface - Project managment

Decision
Maker User
COMPONENTS OF DSS
 DATABASE: Current & Historical Data from Many
Sources, as Required
 MODEL BASE: Collection of Mathematical & Analytical
Building Blocks
 USER INTERFACE ;Communication between a DSS and
user
 USER: The person faced with the problem
 A database is an organized collection of data for one
or more multiple uses .
 Databases consist of software-based "containers" that
are structured to collect and store information so
users can retrieve, add, update or remove such
information in an automatic fashion
 A graphical user interface (GUI) (sometimes
pronounced gooey is a type of user interface item
that allows people to interact with programs in more
one ways
MODEL BASE
 Financial
e.g.: Cash Flow (discounted payback)
Spreadsheet

 Statistical Analysis

 Graphical Project Management

 Management Science
THE DATA MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM OF A
DSS
 The data management subsystem allows the user to
create DSS databases by extracting data from other and,
in some systems, databases that are external to the
organization.

 Figure; data management subsystem of a DSS.

 Databases of Other
Electronic Information Strategically linked companies
Services

Personal, workgroup, External Databases

And subunit databases
Finance

Data
extraction
Marketing

DSS
database
Operations

Database management
• Data modification
• Data retrieval Transaction
• Report generation processing

Database
Management
component
Personnel
Dialogue Model
Management Management
subsystem subsystem
Model Management Subsystem of a DSS

 The model management software makes it

possible for users to create, maintain, and
use models needed to make decisions.
 The model database may contain a wide

variety of models, depending on the needs of

decision makers.
FIGURE: MODEL MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM OF A DSS

Model
management
Data software
Management
• Model creation • Calculator functions
subsystem
• Model modification • Economic models
• Model use • Financial models
Dialogue • Model maintenance • Forecasting models
management • Management-science
subsystem ….models
• Marketing models
• Operations models
• Sensitivity analysis
• Simulation models
• Statistical models
• Transportation/ logistics
…models
THE DIALOGUE MANAGEMENT
SUBSYSTEM
 The dialogue management system provides users with a
flexible, interactive interface for input, processing and
output.
FIGURE; DIALOGUE MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM
Data
Management
subsystem

Output modules
Input modules that support:
_________________________________________ That support;
• Command language -------------------------------
• Direct data entry;
o Keyboard • Graphics
o Lightpen Device • On-screen display
o Mouse Support • Multidemensional
o Pen=based tablet Software
o Scanner, and so on
dispalys
• Graphical user interface • On-screen windows
• Natural language interface • Report generation
• On-screen menus • Printers, plotters etc.
• On-screen templates
• Programming language interface

Model
management
subsystem
PUTTING A DSS AT WORK
 The tasks commonly performed by decision support
systems are;
 Information retrieval
 Data reconfiguration
 Calculator activities
 Analysis
INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
 Information retrieval in a DSS environment refers to the
act of extracting information from a database, or from
data files for the purpose of making decision.
SELECTION AND PROJECTION
 Two common types of retrieval are;
- Selection
- Projection
Selection: Selection involves separating out records that
have specific charabteristics.
e.g. identifying all males overgage 64 in employee file or
database.
Projection: obtaining only certain fields of data.
e.g. extracting all names and phone numbers from an
employee file or database.
 FIGURE: DATA RECONFIGURATION
State City Name
Original data:
Punjab Multan M. Rashid
Punjab Lahore Irfan Khalid
Name City State Punjab jranwla Asad Bashir
Sindh Karachi Ahmad Rza
M. Rashid Multan Punjab Blchstan Kohlu Zahid Ali
Irfan Khalid Lahore Punjab
(b) Exchanging fields (columns)
Asad Bashir Jranwla Punjab
Ahmad Raza Karachi Sindh
Name City State Zip
Zahid Ali Kohlu Blchstan
M. Rashid Multan Punjab 52000
Irfan Khalid Lahore Punjab 54000
Asad Bashir Jranwla Punjab 50000
Ahmad Raza Karachi Sindh 42000
Zahid Ali Kohlu Blchstan 65000

Name City State (c) Joining (with zip code data)

Ahmad Raza Karachi Sindh
Asad Bashir Jranwla Punjab
Irfan Khalid Lahore Punjab Punjab Sindh
(60%) (20%)
M. Rashid Multan Punjab
Zahid Ali Kohlu Blchstan (d) Presentation graphics
Blchstan
(20%)
(pie chart by state)
(a) Sorting by name
CALCULATOR ACTIVITIES
 Functions
- Arithmetic and Statistical Functions
i.e. SUM, AVG, LOG etc.

- Financial Functions
PV, FV, NPV, PMT etc.

- Conditional Functions
IF, CHOOSE etc.

- Data Functions
TODAY, DATE etc.
ANALYSIS
 Four widely used types of DSS analysis tools:
 StatisticalTools
 Optimizing Tools
 What-if Analysis
 Intelligence routines.
DSS Development
 The DSS development process in many instances,
after decision-making needs are identified and an
initial prototype developed, several evaluation/
modification iterations may be needed before the
DSS is ready for use.
 DSS development tools:
=> Spreadsheets
=> User Interface
=> Command Interfaces
=> Templates
=> Physical Modification
 Figure: DSS Development Process
Determination of decision-making
requirements

Developmetn of Initial DSS prototype

Evaluation of Prototype/DSS

Are Decision- Yes

making
requirements
satisfied?
Completion and documentation of
DSS
NO

Modification of Prototype/DSS Usable DSS

Evaluation/ modification loop

DSS Examples
 A contract negotication DSS
 An Oil Executive’s DSS
 An Environmental DSS
Group Decision Support Systems

 Group of managers could also use a DSS as

well on a common task or issue
 To facilitate this a GDSS (Group Decision

Support System) application is provided to

multiple users on various computer and on
multiple networks
 Is the requirement in the organization that

believe in team-based working environment

 Characteristics of a GDSS (1)
• Special design:
– Effective communication
– Group decision making
• Ease of use
• Flexibility
– Accommodate different perspectives
• Anonymous input
– Individuals’ names are not exposed
• Parallel communication
 Characteristics of a GDSS (2)
• Decision-making support
– Delphi approach: Decision makers are scattered
around the globe
– Brainstorming: Say things as you think---think out
loud
– Group consensus approach: The group reaches a
unanimous decision (everybody agrees)
– Nominal group technique: Voting
• Reduction of negative group behavior
– A trained meeting facilitator to help with sidetracking
• Automated record keeping
 Examples of GDSS Software

• Lotus Notes
– Store, manipulate, distribute memos
• Microsoft Exchange
– Keep individual schedules
– Decide on meeting times
• NetDocuments Enterprise
– Two people can review the same document
together
GDSS Alternatives
THANKYOU
 Prepared by:

 IRFAN KHALID
 irfankhalid1@live.com