A New DSS Framework

Column one of Table 1.2 list five broad categories of Decision Support Systems that differ in terms of the DSS technology component, including Communications-Driven DSS, Data-Driven DSS, Document-Driven DSS, Knowledge-Driven DSS and Model-Driven DSS. Subsequent chapters explain these categories in more detail and identify development and implementation issues. The new DSS framework also categorizes Decision Support Systems by user groups – intra-organizational and inter-organizational. The new category called Inter-Organizational DSS helps us focus on the broadening of the DSS user group to include external stakeholders.

Dominant DSS Component	User Groups: Internal, External	Purpose: General, Specific	Enabling Technology
Communications Communications-Driven DSS	Internal teams, now expanding	Conduct a meeting Bulletin Board Help users collaborate	Web or Client/Server
Database Data-Driven DSS	Managers, staff, now suppliers	Query a Data Warehouse	Main Frame, Client/Server, Web
Document base Document-Driven DSS	Specialists and user group is expanding	Search Web pages Find documents	Web
Knowledge base Knowledge-Driven DSS	Internal users, now customers	Management Advice Choose products	Client/Server, Web
Models Model-Driven DSS	Managers and staff, now customers	Crew Scheduling Decision Analysis	Stand-alone PC

Table 1.2. A New DSS Framework.

From a different perspective, Decision Support Systems can be categorized by the purpose of the DSS. Many DSS have a narrow, focused, specific purpose rather than a general purpose. Finally, DSS can be categorized by the basic enabling technology. The Web is an important new development arena for DSS so it is crucial to examine and understand Web-Based DSS. We can use dominant DSS component, user group, purpose and enabling technology to categorize a specific system. For example, we may want to build a Model-Driven, Inter-Organizational, Product Design, Web-Based DSS.

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