ABSTRACT

Decision support systems (DSSs) are defined as interactive computer-based systems that aid users in judgment and choice activities. The entry focuses on the core module of DSSs, notably one that directly supports modeling decision problems and identifies best alternatives. It introduces three components of decisions: decision alternatives, preferences, and uncertainty. It presents fundamental components of a DSS: the database management system, the model-base management system, and the dialog generation and management system. It discusses an emergent class of decision-analytic DSSs, based on the sound foundations of probability theory and decision theory. Finally, it reviews issues related to user interfaces to DSSs.