Decision Support Systems

This chapter places decision automation in a broader context of using information technologies in decision making. Key definitions and a brief history of computerized decision support create important boundaries. Then a description and explanation of characteristics of computerized decision support systems (DSS) clarifies this application domain. After reviewing management information needs, a modern taxonomy of decision support systems is briefly summarized. Issues associated with building DSS and various architectures are reviewed before concluding the overview. 87.1 Characteristics of DSS ............................ 1540 87.1.1 Management Information Needs .... 1540 87.1.2 Communications-Driven and Group DSS ............................. 1542 87.1.3 Data-Driven DSS ........................... 1542 87.1.4 Document-Driven DSS ................... 1542 87.1.5 Knowledge-Driven DSS ................. 1543 87.1.6 Model-Driven DSS ........................ 1543 87.1.7 Secondary Dimensions .................. 1543