Turban, Aronson, and Liang Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, Seventh Edition

Chapter 6 Decision Support System Development

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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Learning Objectives
Understand the concepts of systems development. Learn PADI, the phases of SDLC. Describe prototyping. Understand which factors lead to DSS success or failure. Learn the importance of project management. Describe the three technology levels of DSS. Understand the learning process involved in DSS development.

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Osram Sylvania Thinks Small, Strategizes Big-Develops the Infonet HR Portal System Vignette Creation of a specialized business portal to solve specific problem
Prototype Interactive, Web-based HR portal

Think small, strategize big

Focus on key problems first Plan to achieve quick small successes

Intranet-based portal for hiring, job postings, benefits, bonuses, retirement information
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Systems Development Life Cycle

Four phases
Planning Analysis Design Implementation

Cyclical Can return to other phases Waterfall model

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-4

Tools
Computer-aided software design tools
Upper CASE
Creates systems diagrams

Lower CASE
Manages diagrams and code

Integrated CASE
Combination

RAD design tools

Enterprise class repository and collaboration UML modeling

Analysis and design software Code debugging methods Testing and quality assurance tools
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-5

Successful Project Management Establish a baseline Define scope of project Manage change and scope creep Get support from upper management Establish timelines, milestones, and budgets based on realistic goals Involve users Document everything
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-6

Implementation Failures
Lack of stakeholder involvement Incomplete requirements Scope creep Unrealistic expectations Project champion leaves Lack of skill or expertise Inadequate human resources New technologies
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2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

Evolutionary Disruptors
Development environment
Organizational cultural factors Loss of top management support User and analyst attitude User experience Development team capability

Development process
User education, support, involvement, training
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-8

Project Management Tools

Project management software can allow:
Collaboration among disparate teams Resource and program management Portfolio management Web enabled Aggregates and analyses project data

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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Alternative Development Methodologies

Parallel development
Multiple development on separate systems

RAD
Quick development allowing fast, but limited functionality
Phased development
Sequential serial development

Prototyping
Rapid development of portions of projects for user input and modification Small working model or may become functional part of final system

Throwaway prototyping
Pilot test or simple development platforms
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Agile Development
Rapid prototyping Used for:
Unclear or rapidly changing requirements Speedy development

Heavy user input Incremental delivery with short time frames Tend to have integration problems
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-12

DSS Development Methodology Prototyping Iterative design Evolutionary development Middle out process Adaptive design Incremental design

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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DSS Prototyping
Short steps
Planning Analysis Design Prototype

Immediate stakeholder feedback Iterative

In development of prototype Within the system in general Evaluation integral part
Control mechanism

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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DSS Prototyping
Advantages
User and management involvement Learning explicitly integrated Prototyping bypasses information requirement Short intervals between iterations Low cost Improved user understanding of system

Disadvantages
Changing requirements May not have thorough understanding of benefits and costs Poorly tested Dependencies, security, and safety may be ignored High uncertainty Problem may get lost Reduction in quality Higher costs due to multiple productions
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2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

Change Management
Crucial to DSS People resistant to change Examine cause of change May require organizational culture shift Lewin-Schein change theory steps
Unfreeze
Create awareness of need for change People support what they help create

Move
Develop new methods and behaviors Create and maintain momentum

Refreeze
Reinforce desired changes Establish stable environment
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-16

DSS Technology Levels

DSS primary tools
Fundamental elements
Programming languages, graphics, editors, query systems

DSS generator (engine)

Integrated software package for building specific DSS
Modeling, report generation, graphics, risk analysis

Specific DSS
DSS application that accomplishes the work

DSS primary tools are used to construct integrated tools that are used to construct specific tools

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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DSS
Hardware
PCs to multiprocessor mainframes

Software
Involves multiple criteria Develop in house, outsource, or buy off the shelf Off the shelf software rapidly updated; many on market Prices fluctuate Different tools available
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DSS
Team developed DSS requires substantial effort to build and manage End user developed DSS
Decision-makers and knowledge workers develop to solve problems or enhance productivity
Advantages
Short delivery time User requirements specifications are eliminated Reduced implementation problems Low costs

Risks
Quality may be low May have lack of documentation Security risks may increase
2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 6-20

DSS
DSS is much more than just a DBMS, MBMS, GUI, interface, and knowledge component

2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang

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