Decision Support Systems
Project: Due july, 2014
Objective and Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to help students become familiar with a professional proposal for a decision support system (DSS). Moreover, students will be asked to prepare a report that will rely on content covered in the textbook assign to this course as well as outside reading.
Description of project:
This assignment is the last part of the project that evolves during the course. Your assignment will be to recommend a decision support system (DSS) for the proposed processes. You are asked to observe the decision making process in an organization that you are familiar with. An example for decision making processes can involve the manufacturing of a product, providing a service, customer support, etc. This may also include decision making processes related to: design, supply, production, inventory control, marketing, etc. The system may be a decision support system, a group decision support system, an expert system or an executive support system.
Your report should include the following sections:
1. Project Rationale and Summary (1-2 pages)
1.1
Description of the present decision making processes
1.2
Description of the problem
1.3
Description of the objectives of DSS (or the benefits a DSS may provide)
1.4
Description of the key stakeholders of the decision making processes
2. The Organization (2-3 pages)
2.1
Brief History of the Organization
2.2
Organizational chart (for individuals related to the decision making processes you selected)
2.3
Description of the current organizational culture, and how it influences performance
2.4
Description of the influences of power and politics within the organization on the decision making process
3. Decision Support System (DSS) Proposal (4-6 pages)
3.1
Discuss how a decision support system can help in each process
3.2
In which portion of the decision making process is a DSS most helpful for decision makers? Why?
3.3
What type of DSS do you recommend your proposed decision making processes? Explain.
3.4
Provide the design specifications for the system:
? Specify the hardware and the software components required to build the system.
? If you plan to use a DBMS, present the relevant logical data model.
? For analytical models, formulate the model and justify the appropriateness of the model.
? If an expert system is used, explain the need for the approach and present the knowledge base.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations (1-2 pages)
4.1
Summary of the problem
4.2
Summary of the DSS proposed
4.3
Summary of the benefits from the proposed DSS
Your report should be 8-12 pages and include detailed answers to the above sections.
Format:
All text in the report should be word-processed (letter or correspondence-quality font), New Times Roman, 12 point, double spaced (not 1 1/2 spaced), and standard margins. The following information should also be included:
Title page:
? Assignment Name/Topic and Number
? Class Name and Number
? Professor's name
? Student Name
? Due date
The report should also be done professionally and should include:
? Table of Contents page
? Page numbers on all pages
? Clear and consistent titles on all sections
? References
? Certificate of Authorship
Professional and appealing document is expected! As required by Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility, please make sure to document appropriately your references and state it in your own words, or put in quotations.