Lectures Notes in

Decision Support Systems

(DSS)

Lecture (8)
Submitted By

Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Abd-Elwahab

Assistant Professor of Information Systems,
Information Systems Department,
Faculty of Commerce & Business Administration,
Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
 CHAPTER (3)
Decision Support Systems
(DSS)
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 Ch 3. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
OUTLINE (Part One)
❑ What is a Decision Support Systems ?
❑ Purpose of DSS.
❑ Common Characteristics of DSS.

❑ Benefits and Limitations of DSS Use.

❑ Classification of DSS.
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3.1 What is a DSS ?
❑ Decision Support System (DSS) is a computer-based
application (Software Package/System) that collects,
organizes, and analyzes Business Data to Facilitate
Quality Business Decision-Making for Management,
Operations, and Planning.

❑ Decision Support System (DSS) is a computerized

information system used to Support Decision-Making
in an Organization or a Business.
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3.1 What is a DSS ?
❑ Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a Subset of
Computer-Based Information Systems (CBIS).

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 Ch 3. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
OUTLINE (Part Two)
❑ Types of Decision Support Systems.
❑ Basic Components of DSS.
❑ Decision Support System Examples.

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3.6 Types of Decision Support Systems
Decision Support Systems can be broken down into categories,
each based on their primary Sources of Information.
1. DATA-DRIVEN DSS.
2. MODEL-DRIVEN DSS.
3. COMMUNICATION-DRIVEN AND GROUP DSS.
4. KNOWLEDGE-DRIVEN DSS.
5. DOCUMENT-DRIVEN DSS.
6. WEB-BASED DSS.
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3.7 Basic Components of DSS
There are Four main Components of a DSS framework as follows:

1. DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DBMS).

2. MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

3. KNOWLEDGE-BASE.

4. USER INTERFACE.

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3.7 Basic Components of DSS

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 Ch 3. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
OUTLINE (Part Three)
❑ Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS).
➢ What Is a GDSS ?
➢ Characteristics of GDSS
➢ Components of GDSS
➢ Features of GDSS
➢ GDSS Software Tools
❑ Difference between MIS and DSS.
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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
The DSS we have just described focuses primarily on
Individual Decision Making. However, so much work is
accomplished in groups within organizations that a special
category of systems called Group Decision-Support Systems
(GDSS/GSS) has been developed to support Group and
Organizational Decision Making.

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.1 What Is a GDSS ?
➢ A Group Decision Support System (GDSS) is an interactive
computer-based system that facilitates a number of Decision-
Makers (working together in a group) in finding solutions to
problems that are Unstructured in nature. They are designed
in such a way that they take input from multiple users
interacting simultaneously with the system to arrive at a
decision as a group.

➢ The tools and techniques provided by the group decision

support system improve the quality and effectiveness of the
group meetings. 12
3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
➢ Groupware and web-based tools for Electronic Meetings and
Video Conferencing also Support some of the group decision
making processes, but their main function is to make
communication possible between the decision-makers.
➢ In a (GDSS) Electronic Meeting, each participant is provided
with a Computer. The computers are connected to each
other, to the facilitator’s computer and to the file server.
➢ A Projection Screen is available at the front of the room. The
facilitator and the participants can both project digital text
and images onto this screen.
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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.2 Characteristics of GDSS
A GDSS has a number of unique Characteristics to support a group of
participants in their decision-making process:
➢ Special Design to support creative thinking, effective communications
and decision-making techniques.
➢ Easy-to-Use so participants from different backgrounds can all
participate effectively.
➢ Flexible so it can incorporate the different perspectives and decision-
making styles of the different participants.
➢ Automated Record Keeping for future review and analysis.
➢ Parallel Communication to allow multiple participants to contribute
simultaneously.
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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.3 Components of GDSS

A Group Decision Support System (GDSS) is composed of three

main Components, namely hardware, software tools, and people.

1. Hardware.
2. Software Tools.
3. People.

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.3 Components of GDSS
1. Hardware:
▪ It includes Electronic Hardware like computers, equipment
used for networking, electronic display boards and
audio/visual equipment.
▪ It also includes the conference facility, including the physical
set up – the room, the tables, and the chairs – laid out in such
a manner that they can support group discussion and
teamwork.

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.3 Components of GDSS
2. Software Tools:
▪ It includes various tools and techniques, such as electronic
questionnaires, electronic brainstorming tools, idea
organizers, tools for setting priority, policy formation tool, etc.
▪ The use of these software tools in a group meeting helps the
group decision-makers to plan, organize ideas, gather
information, establish priorities, take decisions, and
document the meeting proceedings. So, meetings become
more productive.
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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.3 Components of GDSS
3. People:
▪ It compromises the members participating in the meeting, a
trained facilitator who helps with the proceedings of the
meeting and an expert staff to support the hardware and
software.
▪ The GDSS components together provide a favorable
environment for carrying out group meetings.

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.4 Features of GDSS
▪ Ease-of-Use: It consists of an interactive interface that makes
working with GDSS simple and easy.

▪ Better Decision Making: It provides the conference room setting

and various software tools that facilitate users at different locations
to make decisions as a group resulting in better decisions.

▪ Emphasis on Semi-Structured and Unstructured Decisions: It

provides important information that assists middle and higher-level
management in making semi-structured and unstructured decisions.
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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.4 Features of GDSS
▪ Supports all Phases of the Decision Making: It can support all
the four phases of decision making, viz Intelligence, Design, Choice,
and Implementation.

▪ Supports Positive Group Behavior: In a group meeting, as

participants can share their ideas more openly without the fear of
being criticized, they display more positive group behavior towards
the subject matter of the meeting.

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3.9 Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
3.9.5 GDSS Software Tools
❑ GDSS Software Tools help the decision-makers in organizing their
ideas, gathering required information, and setting and ranking
priorities. Some of these tools are as follows:

➢ Electronic Questionnaire.

➢ Electronic Brainstorming Tools.

➢ Idea Organizer.

➢ Tools for Setting Priority.

➢ Policy Formation Tool.

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3.10 Difference between MIS and DSS

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3.10 Difference between MIS and DSS

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 Ch 3. Decision Support Systems
❑ What is a Decision Support Systems ?
❑ Purpose of DSS.
❑ Common Characteristics of DSS.
❑ Benefits and Limitations of DSS Use.
❑ Classification of DSS.
❑ Types of Decision Support Systems.
❑ Basic Components of DSS.
❑ Examples of DSS.
❑ Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS).
❑ Difference between MIS and DSS. 26
Thanks!

Ahmed Mohamed Abd-Elwahab

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