Model management subsystem

DSS Description

Components of DSS

Components of DSS• Database management system (DBMS)Software for establishing, updating, and querying(e.g., managing) a database• Data warehouseA physical repository where relational data areorganized to provide clean, enterprise-wide datain a standardized format• DatabaseThe organizing of files into related units that arethen viewed as a single storage concept. Thedata in the database are generally made availableto a wide range of users

Components of DSS• Model management subsystem– Model base management system (MBMS)Software for establishing, updating, combining,and so on (e.g., managing) a DSS model base• User interfaceThe component of a computer system thatallows bidirectional communication betweenthe system and its user

Components of DSS• Knowledge-based managementsubsystem– The knowledge-based managementsubsystem can support any of the othersubsystems or act as an independentcomponent– Organizational knowledge baseAn organization’s knowledge repository

Data Management Subsystem• The data management subsystem iscomposed of”– DSS database– DBMS– Data directory– Query facility

Data Management Subsystem

Data Management Subsystem• The Database– Internal data come mainly from the organization’stransaction processing system– External data include industry data, marketresearch data, census data, regional employmentdata, government regulations, tax rate schedules,and national economic data– Private data can include guidelines used byspecific decision makers and assessments ofspecific data and/or situations

Data Management Subsystem• Data extractionThe process of capturing data from severalsources, synthesizing them, summarizingthem, determining which of them are relevant,and organizing them, resulting in theireffective integration

Data Management Subsystem• Database management system (DBMS)• Software for establishing, updating, andquerying (e.g., managing) a database• Query FacilityThe (database) mechanism that acceptsrequests for data, accesses them,manipulates them, and queries them• DirectoryA catalog of all the data in a database or allthe models in a model base

Data Management Subsystem• Key database and database managementsystem issues– Data quality– Data integration– Scalability– Data security

The Model Management Subsystem

The Model Management Subsystem• Model baseA collection of preprogrammed quantitativemodels (e.g., statistical, financial,optimization) organized as a single unit

The Model Management Subsystem• Four categories of models with the modelbase– Strategic models– Tactical models– Operational models– Analytical models

The Model Management Subsystem• Strategic modelsModels that represent problems for thestrategic level (i.e., executive level) ofmanagement• Tactical modelsModels that represent problems for thetactical level (i.e., midlevel) of management

The Model Management Subsystem• Operational modelsModels that represent problems for theoperational level of management• Analytical modelsMathematical models into which data areloaded for analysis

The Model Management Subsystem• Model building blocks and routines– Model building blocksPreprogrammed software elements that can beused to build computerized models. For example,a random-number generator can be employed inthe construction of a simulation model• Model components for building DSS• Modeling tools

The Model Management Subsystem• Model base management system: MBMSsoftware has four main functions– Model creation, using programming languages,DSS tools and/or subroutines, and other buildingblocks– Generation of new routines and reports– Model updating and changing– Model data manipulation

The Model Management Subsystem• Model directory– Model execution is the process of controlling theactual running of the model– Model integration involves combining theoperations of several models when needed– A model command processor is used to acceptand interpret modeling instructions from the userinterface component and route them to theMBMS, model execution, or integration functions

Knowledge-BasedManagement Subsystem• Advanced DSS are equipped with acomponent called a knowledge-basedmanagement subsystem that can supply therequired expertise for solving some aspects ofthe problem and provide knowledge that canenhance the operation of other DSScomponents

User Interface (Dialog) Subsystem• User interfaceThe component of a computer system thatallows bidirectional communication betweenthe system and its user.• User interface management system (UIMS)The DSS component that handles allinteraction between users and the system

User Interface (Dialog) Subsystem

DSS developments• DSS developments– Parallel processing hardware and softwaretechnologies have made major inroads in solvingthe scalability issue– Web-based DSS have made it easier and lesscostly to make decision-relevant information andmodel-driven DSS available to users ingeographically distributed locations, especiallythrough mobile devices

DSS developments– Parallel processing hardware and softwaretechnologies have made major inroads in solvingthe scalability issue– Web-based DSS have made it easier and lesscostly to make decision-relevant information andmodel-driven DSS available to users ingeographically distributed locations, especiallythrough mobile devices

DSS developments• DSS developments– Artificial intelligence continues to make inroads inimproving DSS• Faster, intelligent search engines• Intelligent agents promise to improve the interface inareas such as direct natural language processing andcreating facial gestures– The development of ready-made (or near-readymade)DSS solutions for specific marketsegments has been increasing

The User• The person faced with a decision that an MSSis designed to support is called the user, themanager, or the decision maker• MSS has two broad classes of users:managers and staff specialists– Staff specialists use the system much morefrequently than manager and tend to be moredetail-oriented– Staff analysts are often intermediaries betweenmanagers and staff specialists

The User• IntermediaryA person who uses a computer to fulfillrequests made by other people (e.g., afinancial analyst who uses a computer toanswer questions for top management)– Staff assistantAn individual who acts as an assistant to amanager

The User– Expert tool userA person who is skilled in the application of one ormore types of specialized problem-solving tools– Business (system) analystsAn individual whose job is to analyze businessprocesses and the support they receive (or need)from information technology– Facilitators (in a GSS)A person who plans, organizes, and electronicallycontrols a group in a collaborative computingenvironment

DSS Characteristicsand Capabilities

DSS Classifications• AIS SIGDSS classification for DSS– Communications-driven and group DSS (GSS)– Data-driven DSS– Document-driven DSS– Knowledge-driven DSS, data mining, andmanagement ES applications– Model-driven DSS– Compound DSS

DSS Classifications• Holsapple and Whinston’s classification– Text-oriented DSS– Database-oriented DSS– Spreadsheet-oriented DSS– Solver-oriented DSS– Rule-oriented DSS

DSS Classifications• Alter’s output classification– Data• File drawer systems• Data analysis systems– Data or models• Analysis information systems– Models• Accounting models• Representational models• Optimization models• Suggestion models

DSS Classifications• Other DSS categories– Institutional DSSA DSS that is a permanent fixture in anorganization and has continuing financial support.It deals with decisions of a recurring nature– Ad hoc DSSA DSS that deals with specific problems that areusually neither anticipated nor recurring

DSS Classifications• Other DSS categories– Personal support– Group support– Organizational support– Group support system (GSS)Information systems, specifically DSS, thatsupport the collaborative work of groups• Custom-made systems versus ready-madesystems