Decision Support System Development By Dr S Sridhar

Decision Support System Development By Dr. S. Sridhar, Ph. D. , RACI(Paris), RZFM(Germany), RMR(USA), RIEEEProc. email : drssridhar@yahoo. com web-site : http: //drsridhar. tripod. com 1

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 three technology levels of DSS. • Understand the learning process involved in DSS development. 2

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 3

Systems Development Life Cycle • Four phases • • Planning Analysis Design Implementation • Cyclical • Can return to other phases • Waterfall model 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 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 6 • Involve users

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 7

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 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 9

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 10

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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 12 problems

DSS Development Methodology • • • Prototyping Iterative design Evolutionary development Middle out process Adaptive design Incremental design 13

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 14

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 15 • Reduction in quality

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 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 17

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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 19

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 20

DSS • DSS is much more than just a DBMS, MBMS, GUI, interface, and knowledge component 21