An Introduction Of The Decision Support System (DSS)

Decision Support System (DSS)
Introduction
A management information systems helps manager make decisions by providing information from a database with little or no analysis. A decision support system (DSS), on the other hand, helps managers make decisions by analyzing data from a database and providing the results of the analysis to the manager. An MIS supports all three levels of management decision making with reports and query responses. A DSS, on the other hand, is usually best for decisions at the middle and top levels of management. As with an MIS, a DSS helps with making decision but does not actually make decision; only managers make decisions.

The users of a DSS are managers, usually at the tactical and strategic levels in the organization. The user requests analysis of data from the system, and the results of the analysis are displayed on the user’s screen or printed in a report. The DSS database contains data that is analyzed to produce the output. The DSS model base (analogous to a database) contains the mathematical models and statistical calculation routines that are used to analyze data from the database. The DSS software provides capabilities for the user to access data in the database and to use models from the model base to analyze the data. The software also displays the result of the analysis on the screen or prints it on paper. Often, the output from a DSS is given in a graphic form, although other forms of output are used. Using the software, the user can try different models and data to see what happens.

The data for the DSS database comes from several sources. The user may enter data into the database, or data may be retrieved from the MIS database or the transaction processing system stored data. In addi...

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...not sophisticated enough to allow for natural language processing of user directives and in quaries

Conclusion

The conclusion is that a DSS that would help decision makers to sort information, get an overview and suggest when dangerous events are about to occur, would be much appreciated. Such a system would enchance coalition forces information sharing since each decision maker could use the information useful to her/him and also see the bigger picture. That would allow for more collaboration between adjacent troops. DSS can be defined as a ‘what-if’ approach that uses an information system to assist management in formulating policies and projecting the likely consequences of decisions. DSS also use computer to facilitates the decision-making process of unstructured decision. But, DSS also have limitations/disadvantages that need to be solved.