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DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DDS)

A DSS helps its user to analyze information and make better

decision A DSS can be general or specific. A specific DSS is designed for

a particular company and used by managers only. A general DSS is

available to all uses. A DSS uses data from internal sources (e.g. MRP

data and financial data) and external sources ( interest rates, population

trends, etc. ). A DSS can also include its own query language, statistical

analysis, and other capabilities that help users retrieve data and analyze

results. With some DSS, managers can also create a model of the factors

affecting a decision. This model can be used by the manager to ask what-

if questions and view expected results. An executive information system

(EIS) is a special type of DSS that supports strategic information needs of

executive management. EIS typically uses external data sources such as

the Internet (Figure 14-2).

EXPERT SYSTEM

It is an information system that records and stores human expert

knowledge and then imitates human reasoning and decision making.

There are two main components of an expert system: a knowledge-base

and inference engine. Knowledge base stores the subject knowledge and

experience of human experts. When a user describes a situation to the

expert system, inference engine applies logical judgments to the

knowledgebase (Figure 14-3). Some examples of expert systems include

system for diagnosing illness, system for searching oil, etc. Expert system

can be used by all users in the organization.

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