DSS design: a systemic view of decision support

Abstract

Page 1Current DSS research is rather fragmentary, and typically ayopic--it centers either on the decision situation which DSS s u~w r t , or on DSS tools or generators. In this paper we adopt a comprehensive view of DSS emphasizing their svstemic nature.This entails identifying the links among the five aspects that classically characterize a system: 1, the environment, i,e., decision situations and access patterns;2. the function (within this environment), i.e., types and levels of decision support;3. the functional components that ~k e it up, i.e., dialog, data, and model management; 4. the arrangement, i .e., the linkages among the components and the assignment of functions to modules; and 5. the resources consumed, i.e., hardware, software, human skills, and data,The systeaic view provides a concrete framework for the effective design of DSS, and serves as a basis for accumulating DSS research results. The premise of the systemic view of DSS is that understanding these systems requires the simultaneous consideration of the five system aspects, i.e., environment, role, components, arrangement of components, and resources required to support the system [Churchman 681, A seaningful DSS design must explicitly link all these aspects so that characteristics of the system's environment and role will be reflected in its components and their arrangement. Center for Digital EconomyThe m e DSS implies that the objects we are discussing are indeed Center for Digital Economy Research Stem School of Business IVorking Paper IS-84-8 1 systems, y e t t h i s perspective has been l o s t i n much of the DSS l i t e r a t u r e . The purpose of t h i s paper is to present a comprehensive view of DSS, using the systemic framework as an organizing concept. No new terminology is introduced. Rather, the paper attempts t o i n t e g r a t e the disparate perspectives found i n the DSS l i t e r a t u r e i n t o a consistent and coherent body of knowledge. This integrated view indeed reveals new insights.Section 2 defines the classical aspects of a system, Sections 3 through 7 apply these definitions t o DSS, explicating the meaning of each aspect i n t h e DSS context, Section 8 examines more closely t h e relationships among the systemic aspects of DSS, p a r t i c u l a r l y the ways r o l e and environment determine components, arrangement, and resources.Finally, section 9 considers the implications of a systemic view f o r DSS design, design research, and curricula. The Aspects of a SystemThe fundamental premise of systems theory (or the systems approach) is t h a t systems, regardless of t h e i r specific context, share a conunon set of aspects or elements [Churchman 681. The systems view, however , is an abstract model, as systems exist only i n the mind of the beholder, Well designed man-made systems are constructed t o resemble t h a t view, as it provides a methodical j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r a set of corponents and t h e i r arrangesen t . order to answer wfiy an object is structured as it is, or how it ...

Case-based reasoning systems: from automation to decision-aiding and stimulation

“…Several frameworks for DSS have been proposed in the literature and they focus on either the technological platforms underlying the DSS [6], [8], or the activities related to the development of DSS [16], [30], [47], [58], or the nature of decision support provided by the DSS [13], [22], [23], [44] or a combination of the above three perspectives [3], [17], [55], [57].…”

Methodology and Software for Interactive Decision Support

“…Ariav and Ginzberg (1985) affirm that there has been no effective integration of the diverse elements of the DSS to date, and this lack of an unified approach to the subject has hampered efforts to develop a solid basis for DSS-design.…”

“…Because of the similarities many researchers postulate convergency in the development of both classes (Ariav, Ginzberg, 1985). Others declare the methods of KBS and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the best suitable ones for DSS-development (Shen, 1987).…”

Towards a New GIS Maturity Model: An Organizational Usage Perspective

“…In a quest to understand the boundaries of the environment that a system operates in, this research followed the logic of the systems approach (Churchman, 1979), which means that in order to understand a system you have to inspect the elements that make up the system and the environment within which the system operates and the linkages between them. Ariav and Ginzberg (1985) utilize this theory to understand the characteristics of the environment that a Decision Support System (DSS) operates within. This research follows the same approach in studying the GIS usage environment.…”

“…From a different angle, Pearson and Shim (1995) follow the logic of Ariav and Ginzberg (1985) to understand the environment in which a DSS system is used and the factors that form this environment. Ariav and Ginzberg (1985), advocate for a systematic view in order to understand the design of DSS.…”