ISMS: Computer-Aided Analysis for Design of Decision-Support Systems

This paper demonstrates concepts, collectively termed interpretive structural modeling, which can aid in the development of decision-support systems through: 1 creating a structure which helps identify the presence or absence of information necessary for decision-making; 2 providing a convenient framework for evaluating control subsystems; 3 defining levels in the system hierarchy; 4 specifying subsystems at each level, and 5 facilitating user participation in the design process. The procedures described operate without the requirement of an a priori knowledge of system structure. This feature and the programmability of the approach ISMS help analysts and users think and communicate effectively about complex design issues.