Architecture of Decision Support Systems

As shown in model, Decision support system consists of two major sub-systems: human decision makers and computer systems. Interpreting a DSS as only a computer hardware and software system is a common misconception. An unstructured (or semi-structured) decision by definition can not be programmed because its precise nature and structure are elusive and complex. The function of a human decision maker as a component of DSS is not to enter data to build a database, but to exercise judge or intuition throughout the entire decision-making process.


Imagine a manager who has to make a five-year production decision. The first step of the decision-making process begins with the creation of a decision support model, using an integrated DSS program such as Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Interactive Financial Planning Systems/Personal or Express/PC.

The user interface sub-system is the gateway to both database management systems and model-based management systems. DBMS area a set of computer programs that create and manage the database, as well as control access to the data stored within it.

The DBMS can be either an independent program or embedded within a DSS generator to allow users to create a database file that is to be used as an input to the DSS. MBMS is a set of computer programs embedded within a DSS generator that allows users to create, edit, update, and delete a model. User creates models and associated database files to make specific decisions.

The created models and database are stored in the model base and database in the direct access storage devices such as hard disks. From a user’s viewpoint, the user interface sub-system is the only part of DSS component with which they have to deal.

Therefore, providing an effective user interface must take several important issues into consideration, including choice of input and output devices, screen design, use of colors, data and information presentation format, using of different interface styles.

Today’s decision support system generator provides the user with a wide variety of interface modes: menu, based interaction mode, command language style, questions and answers, form interaction, natural language processing based dialogue, and graphical user interface (GUI). GUIs use icons, buttons, pull-down, menus, bars, and boxes extensively and have become the most widely implemented and versatile type. The interface system allows users to access to:

1. The data sub-system: (a) database (b) database management software;
2. The model sub-system: (a) model base (b) model base management software.

Decision Support System

The definition of Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Decision Support Systems (DSS) is 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.


History of DSS

Information Systems researchers and technologists have built and investigated Decision Support Systems (DSS) for approximately 50 years. This paper chronicles and explores the developments in DSS beginning with building model-driven DSS in the late 1960s, theory developments in the 1970s, and the implementation of financial planning systems, spreadsheet DSS and Group DSS in the early and mid 80s. Data warehouses, Executive Information Systems, OLAP and Business Intelligence evolved in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Finally, the chronicle ends with knowledge-driven DSS and the implementation of Web-based DSS in the mid-1990s. Beginning in about 1980, many activities associated with building and studying

DSS occurred in universities and organizations that resulted in expanding the scope of DSS applications. These actions also expanded the field of decision support systems beyond the initial business and management application domain.

These diverse systems were all called Decision Support Systems. In those early days, it was recognized that DSS could be designed to support decision-makers at any level in an organization.

Also, DSS could support operations decision making, financial management and strategic decision-making.