Validity of Decision Support Systems: Towards a Validation Methodology

Abstract

The widespread use in business of information systems based on mathematical models developed by end-users means that validation has now become of considerably greater interest than previously. One consequence of this is that the traditional methodology of validation needs to be augmented so that appropriate validation will be carried out by such non-specialists. This paper is intended to foster a debate within the modelling community as to the most appropriate validation methodology to espouse in such circumstances. This paper is concerned with lone-user decision support systems (DSS): group DSS are not considered. Methodologies for validation are reviewed. A simple, operationalizable validity framework is proposed that is usable by both systems builders and by users. An example is given of the use of the framework with a simple DSS using a spreadsheet—the most common form of DSS. This framework is intended to provide the basis for the development of a practical validation methodology, one contingent on the context in which the system will be built and used. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.