1. Decision Support Systems Course
Dr. Aref Rashad
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

2. Decision Support Systems Course
Course Goals
To become familiar with the goals and different forms of decision support.
Explore approaches to decision making
Explore the various decision support system components together with a detailed illustration of
Decision support system analysis, design and development
Implementation and Applications of Decision Support Systems.
The actual and potential impact of the technology together with the challenges associated with this kind of application will be examined.
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

3. Decision Support Systems Course
References:
Decision Support Systems for Business Intelligence, 2nd Edition, Vicki L. Sauter, January 2011, ©2010
Decision support systems and intelligent systems, Efraim Turban. Jay E. Aronson, Prentice Hall, 1998
Lecture Notes
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

4. Decision Support Systems Course
Course Requirements
Lectures Notes
Project
Assignment
Grades Distribution
Final Exam
Midterm
Assignment
Attendance
Classroom activities
Practice & Project
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

5. Decision Support Systems Course
Course Requirements
Project:
Each group shall submit a project showing real implementation of DSS based on using Excel and Visual Basic. (Week 10)
Assignment:
Each student shall submit a paper at least 5 pages on DSS application on certain domain (industry, Education, Health, Government….etc.) (Week 8)
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

6. Decision Support Systems Course
Course Contents
Decisions and Decision Making Support.
DSS Data Component.
DSS Model Component.
DSS User Interface.
DSS Application Example
Designing a Decision Support System.
Development and Implementation Strategy.
Intelligence and Decision Support Systems.
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

7. Decision Support Systems Course
“Virtually everyone makes hundreds of decisions each day”
Decisions made up of a composite of information, data, facts and belief.
Data by itself does not constitute useful information unless it is analyzed and processed.
"Good decision making" means we are informed and have relevant and appropriate information on which to base our choices among alternatives.
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

8. Decision Support Systems Course
Quality of decisions
Quality of decisions depend on :
The adequacy of the available information
The quality of the information, the number of options
The appropriateness of the analysis effort available at the time of the decision
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

9. Decision Support Systems Course
Organizations
Organizations are systems
Involve people, structure and a common purpose
Have limited resources
Need to perform a series of functions to meet its objectives
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

10. Decision Support Systems Course
Managers
Managers are responsible for effective and efficient execution of these organizational functions.
A typical manager performs a number of functions that are categorized as:
Interpersonal
Informational
Decisional
One of the key traits that distinguish managers from operatives is the ability to make independent decisions.
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

11. Decision Support Systems Course
Types of Problems
Structured: situations where the procedures to follow when a decision is needed can be specified in advance
Repetitive
Standard solution methods exist
Complete automation may be feasible
Unstructured: decision situations where it is not possible to specify in advance most of the decision procedures to follow
One-time
No standard solutions
Rely on judgment
Automation is usually infeasible
Semi-structured: decision procedures that can be prespecified, but not enough to lead to a definite recommended decision.
February 2013
Decision Support Systems Course

12. Decision Types
Effective managers make various kinds of decisions. In general, these decisions are either:
Programmed decisions
Non-programmed decisions