Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.14
With a spreadsheet program, a
manager can enter a goal and the
spreadsheet will determine the
input needed to achieve the goal.
Capabilities of a Decision Support System
Developers of decision support systems strive to make them more flexible than management
information systems and to give them the potential to assist decision makers in a variety of
situations. Table 10.1 lists a few DSS applications. DSSs can assist with all or most problem-
solving phases, decision frequencies, and different degrees of problem structure. DSS
approaches can also help at all levels of the decision-making process. A single DSS might
provide only a few of these capabilities, depending on its uses and scope.
Table 10.1
Company or Application
Description
Selected DSS Applications
ING Direct
The financial services company uses a DSS to summarize
the bank's financial performance. The bank needed a
measurement and tracking mechanism to determine how
successful it was and to make modifications to plans in real
time.
Cinergy Corporation
The electric utility developed a DSS to reduce lead time and
effort required to make decisions in purchasing coal.
U.S. Army
It developed a DSS to help recruit, train, and educate enlisted
forces. The DSS uses a simulation that incorporates what-if
features.
It developed a DSS called Energy Plan (EPLAN) to analyze the
impact of U.S. energy policy on the environment.
National Audubon Society
The computer company developed a DSS called Quality
Decision Management to help improve the quality of its
products and services.
Hewlett-Packard
State of Virginia
The State of Virginia developed the Transportation Evacuation
Decision Support System (TEDSS) to determine the best way
to evacuate people in case of a nuclear disaster at its nuclear
power plants.
