DSS Capabilities and Characteristics: Business analytics focus on the use of models and data to improve an AIS SIGDSS

AIS SIGDSS classification for DSS : Communications-driven and group DSS (GSS): Includes how computer,
organization's performance and/or competitive posture. Web analytics means using business analytics on real-time
Web information to assist in decision making; often related to e-Commerce. Predictive analytics describes the
business analytics method of forecasting problems and opportunities rather than simply reporting them as they occur
1. Support for decision makers, mainly in semistructured and unstructured situations, by bringing together human
judgment and computerized information 2. Support for all managerial levels, ranging from top executives to line
managers 3. Support for in dividuals as well as groups 4. Support for interdependent and/or sequential decisions 5.
Support in all phases of the decision-making process 6. Support for a variety of decision-making processes and styles
7. DSS are flexible, so users can add, delete, combine, change, or rearrange basic elements; DSS can be readily
modified to solve other, similar problems 8. User-friendliness, strong graphical capabilities, and a natural language
interactive humanmachine interface can greatly increase the effectiveness of DSS 9. Improved effectiveness of
decision making 10.The decision maker has complete control over all steps of the decision-making process in solving
a problem 11. End users are able to develop and modify simple systems by themselves 12. Models are generally
utilized to analyze decision-making situations13. Access is provided to a variety of data sources, formats, and types 14.
Can be employed as a standalone tool used by an individual decision maker in one location or distributed throughout
an organization and in several organizations along the supply chain 15. Can be integrated with other DSS and/or
applications, and it can be distributed internally and externally, using networking and Web technologies
collaboration, and communication technology support groups in tasks. Essentially, all DSS that involve supporting any
group work fall into this category. E.g., SCM. Data-driven DSS: Primarily rely on data and their processing into
information, along with the presentation of this information to a decision maker. May DSS developed in OLAP and data
mining software systems essentially fall into this category. It also has Strong Report and Query capabilities. Document-
driven DSS: relies on knowledge coding, analysis, search, and retrieval for decision support. This includes all text-
based DSS and most KMS. Document-driven DSS have minimal emphasis on mathematical models. Knowledge-
driven DSS, data mining, and management ES applications: Involve the application of knowledge technologies to
address specific decision support needs. All Artificial Intelligence-based DSS fall into this category. Model-driven
DSS: The major emphases of DSS that are primarily developed around one or more optimization or simulation model.
E.g., Excel includes dozens of statistical packages, Solver, and many financial and management models. Compound
DSS: A compound or hybrid, DSS includes two or more of the major categories. Often , an ES can benefit by utilizing
some optimization, or clearly a data driven DSS can feed a large-scale optimization model.

Q1. The Database: A database is a collection of interrelated data , organised to meet the needs and structure of an
organization that can be used by one person for more than one application. Data in a DSS database are extracted from: 1.
Internal data come mainly from the organizations transaction processing system 2. External data include industry data,
market research data, census data, regional employment data, government regulations, tax rate schedules, and national
economic data 3. Private data can include guidelines used by specific decision makers and assessments of specific data
and/or situations. DBMS: Software for establishing, updating, and querying (e.g., managing) a database. The DBMS
manages the database to organize, extract/access, modify, delete, and catalogue data.. Data Directory: The main purpose of
the directory, and the data definitions it contains, is to answer questions about the availability of data items, their source, and
their meaning. It also contains access rules that control users access to certain columns or rows of the database tables.
Query Facility: The (database) mechanism that accepts requests for data, accesses them, manipulates them, and queries
them. Q2. Ingredients of Data (Information) Quality Management : Data quality is a business problem, not only a
systems problem. 2. Focus on information about customers and suppliers, not just data 3. Focus on all components of data:
definition, content, and presentation 4. Implement data/information quality management processes, not just software to
handle them 5. Measure data accuracy as well as validity. 6.Measure real costs (not just the percentage) of poor quality
data/information 7. Emphasize process improvement preventive maintenance, not just data cleansing. 8. Improve processes
(and hence data quality) at the source 9. Educate managers about the impacts of poor data quality and how to improve it 10.
Actively transform the culture to one that values data quality

Q2. DSS USER and HARDWARE: The person faced with a decision that an MSS is designed to support is called the user,
manager or the decision maker. The users differ greatly from each other and they can be an individual or a group, depending
on who is responsible for the decision. They occupy different organizational positions; cognitive preferences/abilities and the
ways of arriving at a decision. The user, although not listed as a major components of DSS, by definition provides the human
intellect. This intellectual capability is critical to the systems success and proper use. An MSS has two broad classes of
users: managers and staff specialists. Staff specialists use the system much more frequently than manager and tend to be more
detail-oriented. Staff analysts are often intermediaries between managers and the MSS. Intermediary: A person who uses a
computer to fulfill requests made by other people . Types: Staff assistants have specialized knowledge about management
problems and some experience with decision support technology. Expert tool users are skilled in the application of one or
more types of specialized problem-solving tools. Business (system) analysts have a general knowledge of the application
area, a formal business administration education (not in computer science), and considerable skill in using DSS construction
tools. Facilitators (in a GSS): control and coordinate the use of software to support the work of people working in a group.
They are responsible for the conduct of workgroup sessions. DSS Hardware: Hardware affects the functionality and usability
of the MSS. The choice of hardware can be made before, during, or after the design of the MSS software . Major hardware
options :Organizations servers, Mainframe computers with legacy DBMS, Workstations, Personal computers, Client/server
systems. Portability has become critical for deploying decision-making capability in the field, especially for salespersons and
technicians.
Q2. Key Database and DBMS Issue: Although many issues affect database and are caused by database, but four important
ones that affect DSS dramatically : Data quality: A key issue in data management is data quality. Decision makers generally
do not feel that they get the data and information they really need to do their work. Poor quality data, which leads to poor
quality information, leads directly to waste. The data cannot be trusted and therefore neither can do any analysis based on
them. The old adage Garbage in/garbage out( GIGO) applies. With poor data, processes will fail or simply perform badly.
For example: given inaccurate data in a CRM system, customers maybe contracted many times, clustered into incorrect
groupings, leading to missed sales opportunities and unhappy customers. Therefore data quality is very important in making
right decision and choice. Data Integration: a single version of the truth is ultimately what decision makers want from their
information systems. Data and information are all over the place in most organizations. When it comes time to develop any
enterprise system, or even a single DSS, data must be gathered from disparate sources and integrated into the single version of
the truth so that everyone is on the same page. Scalability: Large database present major scalability problems. As the size of
the data to be stored and accessed increases, processing times and storage space also grow. The internet is clearly the main
driving force for applications especially across the enterprise. Data Security: one key issue that DMBS is supposed to handle
by its very nature is data security. The consequences of unauthorized access to unsecured data can be extremely detrimental to
the financial well-being of an organization. Data must be protected from unauthorized access through security measures such
as ID and Password protection. Finally data can be encrypted so that even in the case of unauthorized access the viewed data is
scrambled and unintelligible.

Components of DSS: The Data Management Subsystem: the data management subsystem includes a database
that contains relevant data for the situation and is managed by software called the database management system
(DBMS). The data management subsystem can be interconnected with the corporate data warehouse, a repository
for corporate relevant decision making data. The Model Management Subsystem: The model management
subsystem is a software package that includes financial, statistical, management science or other quantitative
models that provides the systems analytical capabilities and appropriate software management. This component
can be connected to corporate or external storage of models. The User Interface Subsystem: The user
communicates with and commands the DSS through the user interface subsystem. The user is considered part of
the system. The web browser provides a familiar, consistent graphical user interface (GUI) structure for most
DSS. Forlocally used DSS, a spreadsheet also provides a familiar user interface. The Knowledge-Based
Management Subsystem: The KMS can support any of the other subsystems or act as an independent
component. It provides intelligence to augment the decision makers own. It can be interconnected with the
organizations knowledge repository, which is sometimes called the organizational knowledge base. Knowledge
may be provided via web servers.

Model Management Subsystem: 1. Model base : A collection of preprogrammed quantitative models (e.g.,
statistical, financial, optimization) organized as a single unit. Contain routine and special statistical, financial,
forecasting, management science and other quantitative model that provide the analysis capabilities in DSS.
Four categories of models with the model base: Strategic models : Models that represent problems for the
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knowledge that can enhance the operation of other DSS component. Knowledge components may be provided
by ES, neural network, intelligent agents, fuzzy logic, case-based reasoning systems and so on. Like database
and model management software, KMS software provides the necessary execution and integration of the
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 User interface subsystem: User interface: The component of a computer system that cover communication
between the system/DSS/ any MSS and its user. 2. Management of the user interface subsystem: The user
interface system is managed by software called user interface management System (UIMS). 3.The user
interface process : Users interact with computer via action language processed by the UIMS. It enables to
interact with DM and MM subsystem. In advance system, user interface component includes, Natural language
processor and Use object ( button) through GUI. DSS access is provided through web browsers (portal and
dashboard) including: Portable devices, Input through SMS, iPhones Application, Voice input and output,
Personal Music player , Direct sensing devices, Voice recognition, gesture interpretation, automated input
(e.g., RFID chips, sensor networks), virtual reality, artificial intelligence, telepresence etc. Q2. Knowledge-
Based Management System: The knowledge-based component can either supply required expertise for
solving some aspects of the decision problem or provide knowledge to enhance the operation of other DSS
components. As an example of the first benefit, an expert system could incorporate rules to help choose the
best routing for an aircraft so it arrives at a maintenance base just before its 400-hour service is due,
eliminating the need for an expensive, unproductive ferry flight. As an example of the second benefit, an expert
system could figure out the best order in which to process database accesses for a complex query.
Such a system can include expert systems, neural networks, intelligent agents, fuzzy logic, case-based
reasoning, and so on. Some instructors may wish to distinguish between the first three items in the list and the
last two. Expert systems, neural networks and intelligent agents are software tools. Fuzzy logic and case-based
reasoning, by contrast, can be considered useful concepts, which can be incorporated into tools of any type,
rather than tools in their own right.. The issue is really one of interpretation of the word tool. If it is taken to
mean a software tool, it is appropriate to exclude the last two items. If it is understood more generally, they
should be included.

Q2. Web Based DSS Architecture: Processing is distributed over several servers in solving analytical problems.
Web Browser: to run programs on application server. Servers access data to construct one or more models . Data
may be provided by Data server that optionally extracts data from data warehouses or legacy mainframe system.
When user requires model to be optimized, model populated with data sent to an optimization server. The
Optimization server accesses additional data from the data server (if needed), solves problem, and provide the
solution directly to the users web browser. Then reports are sent to manager by email or web portal.

Q 2. The H&W classifications map readily into those of the AIS SIGDSS, as follows: H&W text-oriented DSS are
the same as AIS SIGDSS document-driven DSS. H&W database-oriented DSS are AIS SIGDSS data-driven DSS.
H&W spreadsheet-oriented DSS are generally another form of AIS model-driven DSS, in which spreadsheet
facilities are used to create and manage models. Because packages such as Excel can include a rudimentary
DBMS or can readily interface with one, they can handle some properties of an AIS SIGDSS database-oriented
DSS, especially manipulation of descriptive knowledge. H&W solver-oriented DSS map directly into AIS model-
driven DSS. H&W rule-oriented DSS include most AIS SIGDSS knowledge-driven DSS, data mining, and
management ES applications. H&W compound DSS integrates two or more of those cited above and corresponds
to the same AIS SIGDSS concept.