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Thierauf, 1982

Prof. Robert Thierauf (1982) noted "one current trend in business information systems is the implementation of real-time management information systems, sometimes referred to as on-line real-time systems. Typical applications within such an environment include accounts receivable, airline reservation systems, bank deposit and withdrawal accounting, hotel accounting and reservation systems, law enforcement intelligence systems, patient hospital records, and stock market information. An essential characteristic of this type of system is the on-line real-time concept. All information is on-line; that is, all data are sent directly into a computer system as soon as they come into being. The whole operation is in real time, which means that data are processed and fed back to the appropriate source in sufficient time to change or control the operating environment. Basically, then, any system that processes and stores data or reports them as they are happening is considered to be an on-line real-time system (pp. 19-20)."

from Thierauf, R. J., "Decision Support Systems for Effective Planning and Control," Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1982.

appeared in DSS News, November 24, 2002, Vol. 3, No. 24