The challenge for DSSs is not that they must keep pace with the increasing influx of data,

but rather
that they must do a better job making sense of the data that is collected. The typical DSS will have a
series of attributes associates with it, some of which are:

1- Timeliness
2- Filtering
3- User aids
4- Interfaces to other systems
5- Intelligence

The degree to which values and ranges are assignees to these attributes, will determine their utility
in the decision part of DSS. The variety of attributes available for analysis will dictates the support
part of the DSS, and the breadth of sensors providing input will give meaning to the system part of
the DSS expression. Some brief definition of these attributes is provided below.

1- Timeliness
a. Timeliness, as an attribute, means that the incoming data must bear some
resemblance to other incoming data sets in order for proper evaluations to be made.
The timing of inputs often provides valuable clues as to the relationship between
reports, the validity of reports or their reliability.
2- Filtering
a. Filtering is the ability of the DSS to make selective judgements about information,
and/or minor decisions, the object being to separate information from what is
crucial to the decision process. Many times, the distinction between necessary and
unnecessary information helps draw lines about the credibility of the process or the
result obtained.
b. For instance, the value of an operation may be its safety impact as opposed to cost
control or revenue impact. The latter measures may, therefore, be somewhat
unnecessary or irrelevant when evaluating the basic value of the system. Reports
about such issues may, therefore, be filtered out so that the system can evaluate
reports of interest to the user.
3- User aids
a. User aids are the tools by which the user can distil and clarify information into
something meaningful and therefore, something of importance to the mission of the
DSS. User aids give the system a certain utility so that the intended user can exercise
the system effectively. These aids include the presentation formats, user interfaces,
the analysis tools, correlation capabilities with other data and interfaces too other
systems.
4- Interfaces to other systems
a. Interfaces to other systems are the connectivity issues, both physical and functional,
that allow data and decision to be conveyed to their systems and make reception of
data possible inti the system. The ability of the system to interface to other systems
also gives it basic make-up. The interfacing again requires communication means
such that the sharing of data lends increased power to each unit, redundancy within
the network and access to databases not possible with isolated units.
5- Intelligence
a. Intelligence is the internal composition of the DSS that allows it to exercise some
degree of problem solving and range of action. Intelligence is usually equated to
such features as artificial intelligence machine vision and robotics.
types