Characteristics, Applications and Components of Decision Support System (DSS):
Characteristics of Decision Support System (DSS):
- They support semi-structured and unstructured decision making.
- DSS provide support for decisions and problems whose solutions
can't be specified in advance.
- Support decision making at middle & top levels of management.
- Provide fast response.
- Provide high degree of user control and interaction.
- Flexibility in specifying output requirements.
- DSS offer users flexibility, adaptability, and quick response.
- They are flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of decision makers.
- DSS operate with little or no assistance from professional
programmers.
- Ease of use and ease of development for non professionals.
Applications of Decision Support System (DSS):
DSS are men/machine systems and are suitable for semi-structured problems. The problems must be important to the manager and the decision required must be a key one. In addition, if an interactive computer based system is to be used then some of the following criteria should be met.
a. There Should Be A Large Database:
A database is an organized collection of structured data with a minimum duplication of data items. The database is common to all users of the system but is independent of the programs which use the data. If the database is too large for manual searching then a computer supported approach may be worthwhile.
b. Large Amount Of Computation Or Data Manipulation Required:
Where analysis of the problem requires considerable computation or data manipulation, computing power Is likely to be beneficial.
c. Complex Inter-Relationships:
Where there is a large database or where there are numerous factors involved. It is difficult to frequently asses all the possible inter-relationships without computer assistance.
d. Analysis By Stages:
Where the problem is an interactive one with stages for re examination and re-assessment, it becomes more difficult to deal with manually. The computer based model can answer the questions, quickly and effectively.
e. Communication:
Where several people are involved in the problem solving process each contributing some special expertise, then the coordinating power of the computer can be helpful.
It follows from the above criteria that decision support system (DSS) are inappropriate for unstructured problems and unnecessary for completely structure problems, because, these can be dealt with wholly by the men/machine interaction.
Components of Decision Support System (DSS):
AS per the above discussion, DSS is basically the interaction of man and machine.
It means that there are three components of decision support system (DSS).
a. Decision maker (user/manager)
b. Hardware
c. Software
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