MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS - FINALS EXAM

Decision Support System (DSS)

It is a type of information system that helps executives make better decisions using historical and current data

Dominant technological component

Five (5) generic categories can be proposed

Target Users

A DSS can target internal or external takeholders

System Goals and Applications

A DSS can have specific or very generalized objectives

Deployment Technology

A DSS can be deployed on either a mainframe computer, a client/server LAN network, or a web-based system architecture

User Interface

The most commonly seen component, it contains the various way for a user to interact with the system

Database

This component holds all digitized data and information essential for the system's tasks

Models and Analytical Tools

These are the technical components that will allow the system accomplish its scope and tasks

Architecture and Network

These refer to how the system hardware is organized, how software and data is distributed

Data-Driven DSS

This type of DSS can take a very large amount of data available from various other information systems

Model-Driven DSS

This type of DSS emphasizes access to and manipulation of a data model in order to help decision-making for possible and probable situations

Knowledge-Driven DSS

This type of DSS focuses on knowledge as its primary framework factor

Document-Driven DSS

This type of DSS, also known as the Knowledge Management System, is a currently evolving system capable of helping managers work on unstructured digital documents and web pages

Communications-Driven and Group DSS

This type of DSS, previously known as the Group Decision Support System (GDSS) or Groupware, includes communication, collaboration, and decision support technologies

Inter-Organizational/Intra-Organizational DSS

These types of DSS put external and internal as its primary key factor

Function-Specific/General Purpose DSS

These types of DSS are designed to support more specific functions for specific types of industries or businesses

Group Decision Support System (GDSS)

It is a type of decision support system that helps organization managers and executives reach a consensus during events that require their collective opinions and proposals

Pre-Planning

This element addresses the agendas of a decision-making meeting

Collaboration Facilitation

This element ensures that ideas and communications are free-flowing, without interruptions or hindrances

Evaluation Objectivity

This element provides equal opportunity for collaborators by eliminating "office politics"

Documentation

This element takes care of logging information from the collaboration

Digitized Input is Required

Unlike traditional meetings, where ideas, comments and criticisms can be conveyed by oral discussion

Moderation is Limited

A GDSS's capabilities become liabilities when multiple discussions about a decision take place

Maintenance Costs may be High

Despite the system reducing costs, the cost of maintaining a high-end facility that can utilize the GDSS for group collaboration

The GDSS may Require a Facilitator

Some GDSS may be complicated, which means a facilitator who can lead collaborations

Hardware

it includes not just computers and other equipment, but also the conference facilities

Persware/Peopleware

This characteristic now involves not just the actual collaborators, but also the facilitators of the group collaboration

Software

This characteristic, in turn, not just involves the use of specialized tools and traditional programs, such as operating systems

Questionnaire Tools

This allows questioning, data-gathering and investigation for planning and collaboration

Electronic Brainstorming

This tool facilitates creations of proposals, ideas, and solutions that will help in making decisions

Stakeholder Identification

This tool determines the impact of the group's decision

Group Dictionaries

This allows the system to reduce a particular problem or concern into distinct interpretations

Executive Support System (ESS)

It is a type of support system tailored specifically for executive use

Information Filtering

An ESS can sift through vast volumes of information

Data Linking

An ESS is able to link data from various sources, both internal and external

Executive Role Support

An ESS can support the three (3) basic roles of an executive: interpersonal roles, informational roles , and decisional roles

Simplicity

An ESS is considered an oversimplified information system due to the fact that it does not need in-depth computer experience to use

Information Processing

An ESS can facilitate the timely delivery of data through better filtering

Flexibility

An ESS can be advantageous to organizations that have fewer layers of management

Computer Skill Requirement

Usage of an ESS assumes that executives and senior managers know how to operate computers

Long Processing Time

Depending on the volume of information, analysis and processing of data to get the desired information may take a considerable amount of time

Limitations on Summarized Information

Information derived from specific data may be insufficient for executives to base a decision

Difficulty in Quantifying Benefits

Since a decision processed by an ESS is based on summarized information, it may be hard for an executive to justify the said decision

Difficulty in Maintaining Database Integrity

Since an ESS derives on large volumes of data, some of them external, the data inside the database may not produce accurate or correct results