DSS SUCCESS: MEASUREMENT AND FACILITATION

Decision Support Systems (DSS) represent an ever increasing portion of the investment in computer-based systems in organizations. Unlike earlier systems which aimed to replace existing clerical processes with faster, more efficient clerical processes, DSS attempt to extend and expand the capabilities of organizational decision makers. This fundamental difference in purpose between DSS and clerical systems causes our existing notions about system success to be inadequate. This paper explores the issue of DSS success, asking what it is, how it can be measured, and what can be done to facilitate it.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

DSS DESIGN--A SYSTEMIC VIEW OF DECISION SUPPORT

Current DSS research is rather fragmentary, and typically myopic--it centers either on the decision situation which DSS support, or on DSS tools or generators. In this paper we adopt a comprehensive view of DSS emphasizing their systemic nature. This entails identifying the links among the five aspects that classically characterize a system: 1, the environment, i.e., decision situations and access patterns; 2. the function (within this environment), i.e., types and levels of decision support; 3. the functional components that make it up, i.e., dialog, data, and model management; 4. the arrangement, i.e., the linkages among the components and the assignment of functions to modules; and 5. the resources consumed, i.e., hardware, software, human skills, and data. The systemic view provides a concrete framework for the effective design of DSS, and serves as a basis for accumulating DSS research results.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND COST CONTROL

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS: ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

BARRIERS TO THE ADOPTION OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE PACKAGES

A two-stage study was conducted of potential software application package users. The first stage defined 38 issues which were viewed as potential obstacles t o the purchase and implementation of applications packages. In the second stage, the relative importance of these 38 issues was quantified. The results suggest that the key obstacle to wider usage of applications packages is uncertainty. Various steps which package developers and package users can take to reduce uncertainty are suggested.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

IMPACT OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ON PROGRAMMER AND ANALYST JOB OUTCOMES

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Implementing Packaged Software

This article presents a model of the implementation process for dedicated packages and describes a research project to test the model undertaken with the cooperation of a major computer vendor. Data were collected from 78 individuals in 18 firms using the package and from the package vendor. The results of the study offer some support for the model, along with suggestions for package implementation for both the customer and package vendor.Information Systems Working Papers Serie