Decision support system

A DSS is a computer-based information system

that supports business or organizational
decision-making
activities.
A DSS is a collection of integrated software
applications and hardware that form the
backbone of an organizations decision making
process and help to make decisions, which may
be rapidly changing andnot easily specified in
advance.
DSS tends to be aimed at the less well structured, underspecified problem that upper level managers typically
face;

1. DSS attempts to combine the use of models or analytic techniques with traditional data access and
retrieval functions;
2. DSS specifically focuses on features which make them easy to use by non-computer-proficient people in
an interactive mode; and
3. DSS emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to accommodate changes in the environment and the
decision making approach of the user.

CONCEPT OF PHILOSOPHY OF DSS

Decision support systems are an application of Herbert Simon model .The model has three phases, which are, intelligence, design
and choice .The DSS basically helps the information system in the intelligence phase where the objective is to identify the problem
and then go to the design phase for solution. The choice of selection criterion varies from problem to problem. It is, therefore,
required to go through three phases again and again till a satisfactory solution is found. In the use of three phase cycle, we may use
inquiry, analysis and models or accounting systems to come to a rational solution.

DSS Characteristics :
Facilitation : DSS facilitate and support
specific decisionmaking
activities and/or decision processes.
Interaction : DSS are computer-based
systems designed for
interactive use by decision makers or staff users
who control
the sequence of interaction and the operations
performed.
Ancillary : DSS can support decision
makers at any level in
an organization. They are NOT intended to
replace decision
makers.
Repeated Use : DSS are intended for
repeated use. A
specific DSS may be used routinely or used as
needed for ad
hoc decision support tasks.
Identifiable : DSS may be independent
systems that collect
or replicate data from other information
systems OR
subsystems of a larger, more integrated
information system.

DSS Characteristics
(cont.):
Easy to Develop and Deploy : DSS
delivers an interactive,
scalable platform for rapidly developing and
deploying
projects. Multiple projects can be created
within a single
shared metadata. Within each project,
development teams
create a wide variety of re-usable metadata
objects.
Integrated software : DSSs integrated
platform enables
administrators and IT professionals to develop
data models,
perform sophisticated analysis, generate
analytical reports,
and deliver these reports to end users via
different channels
(Web, email, file, print and mobile devices).
Flexibility : DSS features are flexible and
can be altered
according to need providing a helping hand in
the work
process.

DSS Objectives :
1. Increase the effectiveness of the manager's
decisionmaking
process.
2. Supports the manager in the decision-
making process
but does not replace it.
3. Improve the directors effectiveness of
decision
making.
 DSS Components :
DSS components may be classified as:
Inputs : Factors, numbers, and
characteristics to
analyze.
User Knowledge and Expertise : Inputs
requiring
manual analysis by the user.
Outputs : Transformed data from which
DSS
"decisions" are generated.
Decisions : Results generated by the DSS
based on
user criteria.
TYPES OF DSS

1. Status inquiry system: the number of decisions in the operational management and same at the middle management is such that
they are based on one or two aspects of a decision-making situation. It does not call for any elaborate computations, analysis,
choice, etc. for decision-making. If the status is known, the decision is automatic. i.e., the status and solution is unique relation.
2. Data analysis system: these decision systems are based on cooperative analysis, and use of a formulae or an algorithm. But, these
processes are not structured and, therefore vary. The cash flow analysis, the inventory analysis and the personal inventory systems
are examples of the analysis systems. The use of simple data processing tools and business rules are required to develop this system.
3. Information analysis system: in this system, the data is analyzed and information reports are generated. The reports might be
having exemptions as a feature. The decision makers use these reports for assessment of the situation for decision-making. The sales
analysis, the account receivable system, the market research analysis, the MRP systems are examples of this system.
4. Accounting systems: these systems are not necessarily for decision making but they are desirable to keep track of the major aspects
of the business as a function. The contents of these systems are more data processing leading to formal reporting, with exemptions,
if necessary. These systems account items such as cash, inventory, and personnel and so on and relate it to a norm or norms
developed by the management, for control and decision.
5. Model based systems: these systems are simulation models or optimization models for decision making. These decisions, generally,
are onetime and infrequent and provide general guidelines for operation or management. The product mix decision, the material
mix, the job scheduling rules, and the resource or asset or facilities planning system.
DSS GENERATORS AND TOOLS

model-driven DSS emphasizes access to and manipulation of a statistical, financial, optimization, or

simulation model. Model-driven DSS use data and parameters provided by users to assist decision
makers in analyzing a situation; they are not necessarily data intensive.

communication-driven DSS supports more than one person working on a shared task.

data-driven DSS or data-oriented DSS emphasizes access to and manipulation of a time series of
internal company data and, sometimes, external data.

document-driven DSS manages, retrieves and manipulates unstructured information in a variety of

electronic formats.

knowledge-driven DSS provides specialized problem solving expertise stored as facts, rules,
procedures, or in similar structures.

Group Decision Support System (GDSS)

A group decision support system (GDSS) is an interactive computer based system that facilitates a number of
decision-makers (working together in a group) in finding solutions to problems that are unstructured in nature.
They are designed in such a way that they take input from multiple users interacting simultaneously with the
systems to arrive at a decision as a group.

The tools and techniques provided by group decision support system improve the quality and effectiveness of
the group meetings. Groupware and web-based tools for electronic meetings and videoconferencing also
support some of the group decision making process, but their main function is to make communication possible
between the decision makers.

Components of Group Decision Support System (GDSS)

A Group decision support system (GDSS) is composed of 3 main components, namely hardware, software
tools, and people.

Hardware: It includes electronic hardware like computer, equipment used for networking, electronic display
boards and audio visual equipment. It also includes the conference facility, including the physical setup the
room, the tables and the chairs laid out in such a manner that they can support group discussion and
teamwork.
Software Tools: It includes various tools and techniques, such as electronic questionnaires, electronic
brainstorming tools, idea organizers, tools for setting priority, policy formation tool, etc. The use of these
software tools in a group meeting helps the group decision makers to plan, organize ideas, gather information,
establish priorities, take decisions and to document the meeting proceedings. As a result, meetings become
more productive.
People: It compromises the members participating in the meeting, a trained facilitator who helps with the
proceedings of the meeting, and an expert staff to support the hardware and software. The GDSS components
together provide a favorable environment for carrying out group meetings.