DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DSS)
Concept of DSS : A decision basically is a resources allocation process
that is irreversible, except that a fresh decision may reverse it or overrule
the earlier one. We can also define it as a reasoned choice among alternatives.
The decision maker, having authority over the resources being allocated,
makes a decision. He makes the decision in order to further some objective,
which is what he hopes to achieve by allocating the resources. The decision
might not succeed in achieving the objective. One might spend the funds and yet,
for any number of reasons, achieve no acceleration at all. For example: To accelerate
an R&D program is an objective, not a decision. To allocate the funds in an
effort to accelerate the program is a decision.
Simple decision is one in which there is only one decision to be made, even
having many alternatives.
A decision may be goal oriented for some degree of
satisfaction for a given objective. Objective may be driven by a decision but
goal is always target/result oriented. A decision may employ decision
analysis; a structured thought process to attain desired results. In doing
this, we can distinguish three features of the situation: alternatives,
uncertainties and outcomes. Decision analysis thus constructs models, logical
or even mathematical, representing the relationships within and between the
features of situation. The models then allow the decision maker to estimate the
possible implications of each course of action that he might take, so that he
can better understand the relationship between his actions and his objectives.
Someone who buys a lottery ticket and wins the lottery obtains a good
outcome. Yet, the decision to buy the lottery ticket may or may not have been a
good decision.
