Architecture of Decision Support Systems

Abstract

After explaining model-based decision support and whom it might support, we turn now to the question of what decision support systems are. In order to discuss this question, this chapter is organized along the theme of architecture of a decision support system (DSS); however, we also present other related issues. In Section 3.1, we describe the basic components of a DSS. The impact of classification of stages of a decision process on the architecture of a DSS is described in Section 3.2. Interfaces and other modules of a DSS are described in Section 3.3. Model types and classification of a DSS are presented in Section 3.4. Section 3.5 deals with the design and implementation of a DSS. The final section outlines the structure for two examples of a DSS, which are presented in Chapters 11 and 12, respectively.