They are suitable for semistructured and unstructured problems.
Decision support systems often include query languages statistical analysis capabilities, spreadsheets and graphics to help decision makers evaluate the decision.
Decision support systems are a type of management information system expressly developed to support the decision making process.
A decision support system facilitates a dialogue between the user who is considering alternative problems solutions, and the system, with its built in models and accessible database.
A typical decision support system process involves retrieving a model from the model base and allocating proper data from the database.
With a model, users can ask if then questions by changing one or several input variables.
The system combines the input data and the model to generate recommendations.
The database is managed by a database management system,, while a model base is managed by a model base management system.
Some decision support systems allow users to cerate models for better evaluation. For example, the vice president of marketing may want to know the net effect on company profit if the advertising budget decrease.
Decision support system should be considered when two assumptions seem reasonable: first, good information is likely to improve decision making; and second, managers need and want computerized decision support.
Anecdotes and research shows that some computer based decision support system can provide mangers with analytical capabilities and information that improves decision making.
In pursing the goal of improving decision making, many different types of computerizes decision support system have been built to help decision teams and individual decision makers.
Today, e-business technologies are transforming business transformation and similar technologies can transform and improve decision activities.
Decision Support Systems
