Decision Support System Development

ByDr.S.Sridhar,Ph.D.,

RACI(Paris),RZFM(Germany),RMR(USA),RIEEEProc.

email : drssridhar@yahoo.comweb-site : http://drsridhar.tripod.com

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.

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

Systems Development Life Cycle

• Four phases• Planning• Analysis• Design• Implementation

• Cyclical • Can return to

other phases• Waterfall model

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DSS Development Methodology

• Prototyping• Iterative design• Evolutionary development• Middle out process• Adaptive design• Incremental design

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

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

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

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

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

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

DSS

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