Definition

decision support system (DSS)

A decision support system (DSS) is a computer program application that analyzes business data and presents it so that users can make business decisions more easily. It is an "informational application" (to distinguish it from an "operational application" that collects the data in the course of normal business operation).Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would be:

Comparative sales figures between one week and the next
Projected revenue figures based on new product sales assumptions
The consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in a context that is described

A decision support system may present information graphically and may include an expert system or artificial intelligence (AI). It may be aimed at business executives or some other group of knowledge workers.

Related glossary terms: spend management, vertical scalability, business technology management (BTM), pure-play, winner's curse, e-brokerage, employee assistance program (EAP), CEO (Chief Executive Officer), learning management system (LMS), out of the box

This was last updated in March 2010

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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