Ebook: Recent Developments in Decision Support Systems

Over the past two decades, many advances have been made in the decision support system (DSS) field. They range from progress in fundamental concepts, to improved techniques and methods, to widespread use of commercial software for DSS development. Still, the depth and breadth of the DSS field continues to grow, fueled by the need to better support decision making in a world that is increasingly complex in terms of volume, diversity, and interconnectedness of the knowledge on which decisions can be based. This continuing growth is facilitated by increasing computer power and decreasing per-unit computing costs. But, it is spearheaded by the multifaceted efforts of DSS researchers. The collective work of these researchers runs from the speculative to the normative to the descriptive. It includes analysis of what the field needs, designs of means for meeting recognized needs, and implementations for study. It encompasses theoretical, empirical, and applied orientations. It is concerned with the invention of concepts, frameworks, models, and languages for giving varied, helpful perspectives. It involves the discovery of principles, methods, and techniques for expeditious construction of successful DSSs. It aims to create computer-based tools that facilitate DSS development. It assesses DSS efficacy by observing systems, their developers, and their users. This growing body of research continues to be fleshed out and take shape on a strong, but still-developing, skeletal foundation.

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This book examines emerging developments in the decision support system (DSS) field as it enters its third decade. The book is based on the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Recent Developments in Decision Support Systems held in Italy in June 1991. The contributors are an international assortment of active DSS researchers who offer diverse perspectives on DSSs and examine recent advances in the field. There are four major parts to the book. Part 1 is concerned with DSS foundations, including concepts, theories, frameworks and models. Part 2 examines DSS development in terms of tools and methods for building DSSs. Part 3 is concerned with DSS usage and evaluation. Part 4 concludes with presentations of specific DSS applications. Researchers, graduate students and practitioners in the DSS field will find that the book provides a stimulating and current treatment of DSS topics, helping to usher in the next decade of DSS advances.

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This book examines emerging developments in the decision support system (DSS) field as it enters its third decade. The book is based on the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Recent Developments in Decision Support Systems held in Italy in June 1991. The contributors are an international assortment of active DSS researchers who offer diverse perspectives on DSSs and examine recent advances in the field. There are four major parts to the book. Part 1 is concerned with DSS foundations, including concepts, theories, frameworks and models. Part 2 examines DSS development in terms of tools and methods for building DSSs. Part 3 is concerned with DSS usage and evaluation. Part 4 concludes with presentations of specific DSS applications. Researchers, graduate students and practitioners in the DSS field will find that the book provides a stimulating and current treatment of DSS topics, helping to usher in the next decade of DSS advances.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Challenges for Information Systems: Representation, Modeling, and Metaknowledge....Pages 3-22
Information Systems to Support Decision Processes: From decision support to networks of inquiry systems....Pages 23-34
The Use of Qualitative and Causal Reasoning in Analytical Review Procedures....Pages 35-51
Finite Domain Constraint Problems and their Relationship with Logic Programming....Pages 53-71
SEMLOG: A Multiparadigm Language for Conceptual Modeling....Pages 73-100
Negotiation Modelling and Support: Expanding the DSS Paradigm....Pages 101-131
Framework for DSS Interface Development....Pages 133-177
Front Matter....Pages 179-179
User Interface Development and Decision Support Systems....Pages 181-209
Expert Modelbase Systems: Research Directions....Pages 211-244
The Use of Domain Information and Higher Order Logic for Model Management....Pages 245-274
Reusing Mathematical Models in ASCEND....Pages 275-293
Knowledge Acquisition: Recent Theoretic and Empirical Developments....Pages 295-312
Computer-Aided Decision Support Engineering....Pages 313-335
Research Issues for Second Generation Knowledge Based DSS....Pages 337-359
New Architectures for WISIWYSWIWSWYS (What I See Is What You See When I Want to See What You See)....Pages 361-379
Front Matter....Pages 381-381
Empirical Research in Managerial Support Systems: A Review and Assessment....Pages 383-437
DSS Evaluation: A Comparison of Ex-Ante and Ex-Post Evaluation Methods....Pages 439-455
The Impact of Group Gender Composition on Group Performance in an Electronic Meeting System Setting: A Study of Group Gender Composition....Pages 457-480
Probabilistic Causal Reasoning in Decision Support Systems....Pages 481-501
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Development of a Decision Support System for Maintenance Planning....Pages 505-520
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Autonomous Planning Agents for Real-Time Control....Pages 521-533
GDSS and Lateral Coordination for Reactive Production Scheduling: An Organizational Approach and the Prototype GROUPS....Pages 535-557
Choosing Solvers in Decision Support Systems: A Neural Network Application in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling....Pages 559-574
Fleet Mix Planning in the U.S. Coast Guard: Issues and Challenges for DSS....Pages 575-598
A Knowledge-Based Decision Support System for the Formulation of Scenarios on Competitiveness Strategies....Pages 599-614
Back Matter....Pages 615-620

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This book examines emerging developments in the decision support system (DSS) field as it enters its third decade. The book is based on the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Recent Developments in Decision Support Systems held in Italy in June 1991. The contributors are an international assortment of active DSS researchers who offer diverse perspectives on DSSs and examine recent advances in the field. There are four major parts to the book. Part 1 is concerned with DSS foundations, including concepts, theories, frameworks and models. Part 2 examines DSS development in terms of tools and methods for building DSSs. Part 3 is concerned with DSS usage and evaluation. Part 4 concludes with presentations of specific DSS applications. Researchers, graduate students and practitioners in the DSS field will find that the book provides a stimulating and current treatment of DSS topics, helping to usher in the next decade of DSS advances.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Challenges for Information Systems: Representation, Modeling, and Metaknowledge....Pages 3-22
Information Systems to Support Decision Processes: From decision support to networks of inquiry systems....Pages 23-34
The Use of Qualitative and Causal Reasoning in Analytical Review Procedures....Pages 35-51
Finite Domain Constraint Problems and their Relationship with Logic Programming....Pages 53-71
SEMLOG: A Multiparadigm Language for Conceptual Modeling....Pages 73-100
Negotiation Modelling and Support: Expanding the DSS Paradigm....Pages 101-131
Framework for DSS Interface Development....Pages 133-177
Front Matter....Pages 179-179
User Interface Development and Decision Support Systems....Pages 181-209
Expert Modelbase Systems: Research Directions....Pages 211-244
The Use of Domain Information and Higher Order Logic for Model Management....Pages 245-274
Reusing Mathematical Models in ASCEND....Pages 275-293
Knowledge Acquisition: Recent Theoretic and Empirical Developments....Pages 295-312
Computer-Aided Decision Support Engineering....Pages 313-335
Research Issues for Second Generation Knowledge Based DSS....Pages 337-359
New Architectures for WISIWYSWIWSWYS (What I See Is What You See When I Want to See What You See)....Pages 361-379
Front Matter....Pages 381-381
Empirical Research in Managerial Support Systems: A Review and Assessment....Pages 383-437
DSS Evaluation: A Comparison of Ex-Ante and Ex-Post Evaluation Methods....Pages 439-455
The Impact of Group Gender Composition on Group Performance in an Electronic Meeting System Setting: A Study of Group Gender Composition....Pages 457-480
Probabilistic Causal Reasoning in Decision Support Systems....Pages 481-501
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Development of a Decision Support System for Maintenance Planning....Pages 505-520
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Autonomous Planning Agents for Real-Time Control....Pages 521-533
GDSS and Lateral Coordination for Reactive Production Scheduling: An Organizational Approach and the Prototype GROUPS....Pages 535-557
Choosing Solvers in Decision Support Systems: A Neural Network Application in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling....Pages 559-574
Fleet Mix Planning in the U.S. Coast Guard: Issues and Challenges for DSS....Pages 575-598
A Knowledge-Based Decision Support System for the Formulation of Scenarios on Competitiveness Strategies....Pages 599-614
Back Matter....Pages 615-620
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