SYS4210

Decision support systems

P O'Donnell

6 points
* 2 hours per week
* First, second semester
* Caulfield, City

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should understand the nature of management and decision making in general; understand the process of decision-support system development; and appreciate the scope and application of information systems applied to decision support. This is a core graduate subject that provides the foundation of further graduate subjects in decision and management support.

Synopsis This subject provides the student with a detailed understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of computer-based decision support. The following topics will be covered in lectures: historical trends in DSS development, normative and descriptive theories of managerial behaviour and their implications for DSS, empirical research into the nature of management and decision making, cognitive aspects of decision making and their implications for DSS development, development methodologies used for DSS, technologies appropriate to DSS, different styles of DSS - individual DSS, group DSS, EIS, organisational DSS, intelligent DSS.

Assessment Written: 40%
* Unit test: 60%

Recommended texts

Arnott D R, O'Donnell P A and Shanks G G Effective management support systems Monash U, 1997