NEW IDEAS IN DECISION SUPPORT

This chapter provides an overview of decision support systems (DSS). The generic description views a DSS as having three principal components: (1) a language system (LS), (2) a knowledge system (KS), and (3) a problem-processing system (PPS). The chapter examines several computer-based systems that adhere to the generic DSS description. However, most of these systems are not business oriented and few do not lie within the prevalent category E. To solve a stated problem using problem domain knowledge, there must be a PPS that possesses some of the seven abilities involved in decision making. Planner, strips, and mycin have been developed by workers in the artificial intelligence field, which deals with toy problems. Workers in the field typically do not have business backgrounds. On the other hand, designers of systems come from database management-management information systems (DBM–MIS) background. The potential application of artificial intelligence techniques in conjunction with DBM–MIS techniques has yet to be recognized or investigated in the DBM–MIS field. The aim of DSS design is toward a degree of generality that goes beyond such systems as the generalized planning system (GPLAN). The quest for generality is intended as a pedagogical aid, but it also has some practical implications in terms of the economic considerations.