Q5 (A) –

Overview 2006
Q2 (A) –
Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a specific class of computerized information
system that supports business and organizational decision-making activities. A
properly designed DSS is an interactive software-based system intended to help
decision makers compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal
knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make
decisions.
• A DSS supports all phases of decision making and may include a knowledge
component
• A DSS can be used by a single user on a PC or can be Web-based for use by
many people at several locations

Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present
would be:
• Accessing all of your current information assets, including legacy and
relational data sources, cubes, data warehouses, and data marts
• Comparative sales figures between one week and the next
• Projected revenue figures based on new product sales assumptions
• The consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in
a context that is described

Decision Making as a Component of Problem Solving

Solution Types
• Optimization model
– Finding the best solution
• Satisfying model
– Finding a good - but not necessarily the best -
solution to a problem
• Heuristics
– Commonly accepted guidelines or procedures
that usually find a good solution
 Q5 (B) –
Characteristics 2006
• Handles large amounts of data from different sources
• Provides report and presentation flexibility
• Offers both textual and graphical orientation
• Supports drill down analysis
• Performs complex, sophisticated analysis and comparisons using advanced
software packages
• Supports optimization, satisfying, and heuristic approaches
• Performs different types of analyses
• “What-if” analysis
• Makes hypothetical changes to problem and observes impact on
the results
• Simulation
• Duplicates features of a real system
• Goal-seeking analysis
• Determines problem data required for a given result
Q5 (B) –
2006
Capabilities of a DSS
• Supports
– Problem solving phases
– Different decision frequencies
• Solves
– Highly structured problems
• Straightforward problems, requiring known facts and
relationships.
– Semi-structured or unstructured problems
• Complex problems wherein relationships among data are not
always clear, the data may be in a variety of formats, and are
often difficult to manipulate or obtain
 Q2 (A) –
Components of a DSS 2005
Q2 (B) –
Components of a Modular DSS System
External
TPS
Models Data Online Analytical Processing:
• Financial
• Statistical It supports multidimensional data
DSS analysis, enabling users to view the
analysis
• Graphical Databas same data in different ways using
e multiple dimensions. Each aspect /
feature represents a different
dimension which provides for
Data Mining Tools DSS Software analyses of same data in different
Data mining is more discoveries System way to obtain different view to the
driven. This provides insights into
Models same output.
corporate data that cannot be
OLAP Tools
obtained with OLAP, by finding
hidden patterns and behavior.
Data Mining Tools
These patterns and rules are
used to guide decision making
and forecast the effect of those User User
Interface

DSS Software System and its logical links with other systems
Model base
• Provides decision makers with
access to a variety of models
and assists them in decision
making
Model management software
(MMS)
• Coordinates the use of models
in the DSS

Dialogue manager
• Allows decision makers to
easily access and manipulate
the DSS
Q2 (C) –
• Advantages
2009
 – Less expensive than custom approaches or real systems.
– Faster to construct than real systems
– Less risky than real systems
– Provides learning experience (trial and error)
– Future projections are possible
– Can test assumptions
• Disadvantages
– Assumptions about reality may be incorrect
– Accuracy of predications often unreliable
– Requires abstract thinking

Executive Support System (ESS)

• Characteristics
– A specialized DSS that includes all the hardware, software, data,
procedures, and people used to assist senior-level executives within
the organization
– Tailored to individual executives
– Easy to use
– Drill down capabilities
– Support the need for external data
– Help with situations with high degree of uncertainty
– Futures orientation (predictions, forecasting)
– Linked with value-added business processes
• Capabilities
– Support for
• defining overall vision
• strategic planning
• strategic organizing and staffing
• strategic control
• crisis management
Operations Support System (OSS) Q4 (A) –
2007
Operations Support System (OSS) performs
management, inventory, engineering, planning,
and repair functions for tele-communications
service providers and their networks.

For traditional telecom service providers,

Operations Support Systems (OSSs) were
mainframe-based systems designed to support
telephone company staff members to automate
their daily jobs such as order processing, line
assignment, line testing and billing, etc. The
complementary term Business Support Systems
(BSS) is a newer term and typically refers to
"business systems" dealing with customers,
supporting processes such as taking orders,
processing bills, and collecting payments. The two
systems together are often abbreviated BSS/OSS or simply B/OSS. B/OSS plays a critical role to support operations
of a service provide and its increasing business services including voice, data, VOIP and multi-media.

Functions of an OSS solution may include the following components:

• Order processing, accounting, billing and cost management

• Network inventory, service provision, design and assign
• Network discovery and reconciliation, trouble and fault management, capacity management
• Network elements, asset and equipment management, field service management

Most of the Operation Support Systems are designed based on the Telecommunications Management Network
(TMN) model. To better define OSS and BSS for future business and technology development, the Tele-Management
Forum is working on a newer model to replace the aging TMN. This new model is called TOM (Telecoms Operations
Map) or eTOM (enhanced Telecom Operations Map).
Additional Capabilities of DSS
Business analytics
The application of models directly to business data. Business analytics
involves using DSS tools, especially models, in assisting decision makers. It is
essentially OLAP/DSS. See also business intelligence (BI).
Predictive analytics
A business analytical approach toward forecasting (e.g., demand, problems,
opportunities) that is used instead of simply reporting data as they occur

The key characteristics and capabilities of DSS

– Support for decision makers, mainly in semi structured and
unstructured situations, by bringing together human judgment and
computerized information
– Support for all managerial levels, ranging from top executives to line
managers
Support for individuals as well as groups
– Support for interdependent and/or sequential decisions
– Support in all phases of the decision-making process
– Support for a variety of decision-making processes and styles
– 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
– 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
– Models are generally utilized to analyze decision-making situations
– Access is provided to a variety of data sources, formats, and types
– 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

DSS Hardware
• Portability has become critical for deploying decision-making capability in the
field, especially for salespersons and technicians
• The power and capabilities of the World Wide Web have a dramatic impact on
DSS
– Communication and collaboration
 – Download DSS software
– Use DSS applications provided by the company
– Buy online from application service providers (ASPs)

Classification of DSS
• AIS SIGDSS classification for DSS
– Communications-driven and group DSS (GSS)
– Data-driven DSS
– Document-driven DSS
– Knowledge-driven DSS, data mining, and management ES applications
– Model-driven DSS
– Compound DSS
• Holsapple and Whinston’s classification
– Text-oriented DSS
– Database-oriented DSS
– Spreadsheet-oriented DSS
– Solver-oriented DSS
– Rule-oriented DSS
• Alter’s output classification
– Data
• File drawer systems
• Data analysis systems
– Data or models
• Analysis information systems
– Models
• Accounting models
• Representational models
• Optimization models
• Suggestion models
• Other DSS categories
– Institutional DSS
A DSS that is a permanent fixture in an organization and has
continuing financial support. It deals with decisions of a recurring
nature
– Ad hoc DSS
A DSS that deals with specific problems those are usually neither
anticipated nor recurring
– Personal support
– Group support
– Organizational support
– Group support system (GSS)
Information systems, specifically DSS, which support the collaborative
work of groups
• Custom-made systems versus ready-made systems