Decision support systems: Scope and potential

The paper addresses the scope of decision support systems starting from the three words, decision, support, and system, that make up the term, aiming at an integration of the modelling necessities from decision theory, from human-machine interfaces, from application domains, and from system Eigen models as the core of every advanced architecture in this field.

Abstract

The paper addresses the scope of decision support systems starting from the three words, decision, support, and system, that make up the term. Based on a decision-theory point of view, the notion of decision and related cognitive concepts are discussed, particularly in connection with the idea of supporting human decision makers in making decisions. The aspect of systems brings in automatic devices that assist the decision maker on various levels of cognitive sophistication. This aspect includes a connection to artificial intelligence whenever a high degree of sophistication is required. With a view to these connections with AI, the paper takes a model-oriented approach, aiming at an integration of the modelling necessities from decision theory, from human-machine interfaces, from application domains, and from system Eigen models as the core of every advanced architecture in this field.