Abstract
Information systems research continues to examine ways to improve support for decision making. The evolution from simple data access and reporting to complex analytical, creative, and artificially intelligent support for decision making persists (Holsapple & Whinston, 1996). In the evolution, existing information systems still, and new intelligent systems have been created to, provide the desired decision making support. By studying the existing, and new, systems’ characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, researchers and practitioners can better design, develop, and implement robust decision making support systems (Kumar, 1999). The original article facilitated such study by presenting and illustrating the underlying information system architectures for robust decision making support (Forgionne, 2005). This article updates the original by offering additional contributions to the subject. New literature on intelligent decision making support is examined, and the relevant findings are discussed. The title has been modified slightly to reflect the updates.
TopBackground
The school is a parochial school enrolling approximately 200-250 students. All grades have a dedicated classroom; a computer lab and library are also provided.
Existing computers consisted of a classroom set of older Macintosh computers in the 8th grade room. Each classroom had an older Macintosh computer for the teacher, all with unused LAN capability. The computer lab contained older Apple computers used in the primary grades for computer literacy and keyboarding skills.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Creativity Enhancing Systems: Information systems that are designed to offer creative tools that help users formulate problems and perform other creative tasks in decision making.
Knowledge-Based Systems: Information systems that capture and deliver problem pertinent knowledge to users.
Decision Technology Systems: Information systems that are designed to support all phases of the decision making process in a complete and integrated manner.
Decision Making Process: The process of developing a general problem understanding, formulating the problem explicitly, evaluating alternatives systematically, and implementing the choice.
Integrated Decision Making Support Systems: Information systems that integrate the functions of one or more individual (stand-alone) decision making support systems.
Decision Support Systems: Information systems that interactively support the user’s ability to evaluate decision alternatives and develop a recommended decision.
Executive Information Systems: Information systems that access, report, and help users interpret problem pertinent information.
Machine-Learning Systems: Information systems that mimic the human learning process and deliver the knowledge to users.
Intelligent Just-in-Time Decision Support Systems: Information systems that provide expertise just in time to support the decision making process.