Decision-Making Support System Effectiveness: the Process to Outcome Link

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Forgionne, Guisseppi A.

Affiliations: Information Systems Department, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD 21250, USA. Tel.: +1 410 455 3943; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Many information systems are available to directly support decision-making.  The various frameworks have engendered a variety of models to evaluate system effectiveness.  Disparate results have been reported from the use of these models, and the results have been used to suggest various, sometimes conflicting, design, development, and implementation strategies.  Without general guidelines, implementation in practice can be a time-consuming, costly, and error-prone process. This paper seeks to improve the situation by offering a general decision making support system (DMSS), a general model of system effectiveness, and an information system to deliver the effectiveness model.  The paper first overviews the decision making process, identifies the role of a DMSS in improving decision-making, and develops a general model of DMSS effectiveness.  Next, there is a presentation of recent studies that have applied the model across various decision situations using a variety of decision-making support systems.  Then, a DMSS is presented that can readily deliver the effectiveness model to researchers and practitioners.  The paper concludes with a discussion of the article's implications for information systems research and practice.

Keywords: Decision Support Systems, DSS Effectiveness, Decision Theory, Multiple Criteria Decision Making

Journal: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 169-188, 2000