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Decision Support System (DSS)
This refers to an information system that supports managers in day-to-day decision-making,
particularly in semi-structured problem solving. DSSs emphasize on small simple models, which
can easily be understood and used by managers, rather than complex integrated systems that
need information specialists to operate.
Functional characteristics:
1. They provide analytical capabilities. DSSs are built explicitly with a variety of models
to analyse data, or they can condense large amounts of data into a form, which can be
analysed by decision makers.
2. They present information in simple graphical form and they may also include tabular
representation.
3. They combine both internal and external information to support decision-making.
External information for a DSS such as a voyage estimating system could include port
rates, fuel costs, and port distances. Internal information could include freight rates for
various types of cargo, labour costs, fuel and water consumption, etc
4. The DSS only provides support to decision making by providing timely information. It
doesn‘t, however, perform decision-making.
5. They are suited for semi-structured problems e.g. a voyage estimating system could
answer the question: Given a customer delivery schedule and an offered freight rate,
which vessel would be assigned and at what rate in order to maximize profits?
6. They are developed with the participation and often, by individual managers or a group
of managers to support a range of decisions of concern to them.
7. They‘re common where effective problem solving is enhanced by interaction between
computer and manager.
gregorymasila answered the question on November 27, 2017 at 13:50
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