History of Decision-Support Systems

History of Decision-Support Systems
Depending on the size and nature of the business, most companies have gone through the following stages of attempts to provide strategic information for decision making.

Ad Hoc Reports. This was the earliest stage. Users, especially from Marketing and Finance. Would send requests to IT rot for special reports. IT would write special programes, typically one for each request, and produce the ad hoc reports.

Special Extract Programs. This stage was an attempt by IT to anticipate somewhat the types of reports that would be requested from time to time. IT would write a suite or programs and run the programs periodically to extract data from the various applications. IT would crate and keep the extract files to fulfill any requests for special reports. For any reports that could not be run MT the extracted files, I F would write individual special programs.

Small Applications. In this stage. IT formalized the extract process. IT would create simple applications based on the extracted files. The Users could stipulate the parameters for each special report. The report printing programs would print the in based on user-specific parameters. Some advanced applications would also allow users to view information through online screens.

Information Centers. In early I 970s, sonic major corporations created what were called information centers. The information center typically was ■I place where users could go to request ad hoe reports or view special information on screens. These were present at these reports or screens. IT personnel were present at these information centers help the users to obtain the desired information.

Decision-Support Systems. In this stage, companies began to build more sophisticated systems intended to provide strategic information. Again, similar to the earlier at-tempts. These systems were supported by extracted files. The systems were menu-driven and provided online information and also the ability to print special reports. Many of such decision-support systems were for marketing.

Executive Information Systems. This was an attempt to bring strategic information to the executive desktop. The main criteria were simplicity and ease of use. The sys-tem would display key information every day and provide ability to request simple, straightforward reports. However, only preprogrammed screens and reports were avail-able. After seeing the total countrywide sales, if' the executive wanted to see the analysis by region, by product. Or by another dimension, it was not possible unless such break-downs were already programmed download 70-410 exam pdf demo . This limitation caused frustration and executive in-formation systems did not last long in many companies.