SYS4160

Decision aids

P O'Donnell

6 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield
* Prohibitons: SYS3124, SYS3160

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should know techniques commonly used in decision support systems dynamics, their application to decision support, current technological developments, and their implications for DSS development; understand some optimisation techniques relevant to decision support systems, some productivity measurement methods relevant to decision support, and some forecasting techniques relevant to decision support; be able to use influence diagrams to design a decision support system, develop a dynamic simulation model, and develop a spreadsheet-based decision support system.

Synopsis Students will investigate the nature of ideal and real decision aiding technologies. The study will cover the following major topic areas. Hardware: consideration of the current and anticipated hardware for DSS; the impact of interface, network and database technology on DSS and EIS practice. DSS software: study and evaluation of current DSS and EIS software; modelling, data storage and retrieval, graphics, interface and software development environments; six products - Excel, Visual BASIC, Hypercard, iThink (a dynamic simulation package), Holos (an EIS package) and Commander (an EIS package) - will feature in class discussion and assignment work. DSS tools: the tools (especially modelling) and `soft' techniques available to DSS and EIS developers; their nature, applicability and relevance to DSS. Current issues in managerial computing technology; the developing OLAP standard, data warehousing, other issues that are noted by the class during the semester.

Assessment Written: 40%
* Practical work: 60%

Recommended texts

Goodwin P and Wright G Decision analysis for management judgement 2nd edn, Wiley, 1997
Rhodes P C Decision support systems: Theory and practice OUP, 1993
Sage A P Decision support systems engineering Wiley, 1991