W

Web-Based DSS

A computerized system that delivers decision support information or decision support tools to a manager or business analyst using a "thin-client" Web browser like Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. The computer server that is hosting the DSS application is linked to the user's computer by a network with the TCP/IP protocol. In many companies, a Web-Based DSS is synonymous with an enterprise-wide DSS that is supporting large groups of managers in a networked client-server environment with a specialized data warehouse as part of the DSS architecture. Web-Based DSS can be communications-driven, data-driven, document-drive, knowledge-driven, model-driven or a hybrid.

"What If" Analysis

The capability of "asking" the software package what the effect will be of changing some of the input data or independent variables. See sensitivity analysis.