Information Processes and Technology

Home > Information Processes and Technology > Decision Support Systems > Decision Support Systems

Introduction to Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Outcomes

This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes

A student:

H1.1 applies and explains an understanding of the nature and function of information technologies to a specific practical situation.
H2.2 develops and explains solutions for an identified need which address all the information processes

Source: Board of Studies NSW (2007) Information Processes and Technology, Preliminary and HSC courses. Board of Studies, Sydney 2007

Activity outline:

This activity will look at giving you some background information about Decision Support Systems (DSS), the role of software and developing an understanding for using Decision Support Systems (DSS).

Content:

Introduction
A Decision Support System is an interactive information system which is intended to be used to assist in making an informed decision based on a set of specific criteria which has been set by the user. The Decision Support System enables the user to input data so that the Decision Support System can organise, process and analyse it to enable the user to retrieve the information output to determine possible solution(s) to the problem. Decision Support Systems uses software written specifically to test the data.

Examples of everyday Decision Support Systems
A recruitment company may use a Decision Support System to help match their clients with suitable employees. Disaster relief organisations may use Decision Support Systems to identify the best ways to enable the rescuers to find survivors, to provide food and water appropriately, and to help make decisions as to where, how and when supplies are sent and who is assisted first. Companies may use spreadsheet models of their business to make “ what - if ” decisions to help make their business more profitable.

Decision Support Systems are not required to provide the final solution to a problem. However, they are used to assist the user in the decision making process. They improve the effectiveness of the decision making and they use models and incorporate and manipulate data to help change the data into valuable and useable information.

The Role of a Decision Support System
The main role of the Decision Support System is to create a model of a particular situation for the user, using an appropriate software package. Software such as databases, spreadsheets, knowledge based systems and neural networks are examples. Through the information processes, the Decision Support System best assists the user to achieve some solution to the problem at hand.

A SIMPLE EXAMPLE: Year 12 Formal Committee

Year 12 students need to decide which venue, what colours, what food and entertainment are needed for the Year 12 Formal. A Formal Committee is formed and decides that the best way to gather the data would be through surveys and interviews (Collecting). Students then use a software package such as a Database Management System (DBMS). This enables the data to be entered (Organised) and saved for future use (Stored and Retrieved). Once the data has been saved then it can be manipulated (Analysed and Processed). It is at this point that the user may need to ask a query through a search facility in the database and this would then show (Display) a result from the query. The resulting information produced could then be shown to the Formal Committee to identify the best possible way for all Year 12 students to have a good time at the Formal. Another method of analysing the data the Formal Committee could have used would be a spreadsheet model. They could have considered the results by extracting and reprocessing the data into graphs and charts for the whole of Year 12 to look at and respond to.

The interaction between the user and the Decision Support System enables the input of data from the user to be organised, analysed, stored and retrieved, processed, and then displayed. Depending on the data, it may also need to be transmitted and received, depending on the source of the data and quantity. A Decision Support System enables interactivity with the user and “what if” questions to be posed. To be effective, Decision Support Systems needs to be thorough and a good model of the real problem.

Main components of a Decision Support System
A Decision Support System can be composed of different sub-systems. These sub-systems include Data Management, Model Management, Knowledge-base Management and the User Interface.

Data Management collects and organises the data. Data Management requires the use of a database and a database management system (DBMS). It also needs storage which holds the data until is it required to be used and manipulated. It assists the decision-making processing of the data. It enables data to be entered into the appropriate sections of the model for it to function correctly under the expectations of the user.

Model Management utilises software such as a spreadsheet to develop the statistical or quantitative models in order to analyse the data. The software used for this is usually called a model base management system (MBMS). Model Management allows the user to create a model to represent a problem, and enables data to be processed into information. The inputs, outputs for the DSS need to be identified, and the relationships between the variables established. The model enables input variables that will change the output depending on the model, prototype or simulation utilised.

Knowledge-based Management supports the other systems as it acts as an independent component to provide the intelligence to augment the solution for a decision to be made. This sub-system can also be known as organisational knowledge base.

The final component is called the User Interface. This enables the user to communicate with the Decision Support System and to extract the information that is derived from the modelling of the given situation. It enables the users to be informed throughout the process to help make a decision. The interface can report the functioning of the model and what is happening at anytime during the operation of the model. This will finally give the user an informed response or responses to the stimulus given and the user can then make a decision based on the response from the Decision Support System.

Activity: Questions

Describe the function of the Decision Support System.
Answer
Briefly explain the role of a Decision Support System.
Answer
What are the sub-systems of a Decision Support System
Answer
Case Study: Research the website for employment called www.seek.com.au and identify how the decision support system would work for employees and employers.
Answer