Distributed decision support system

1. A distributed decision support system is a software tool that assists operators in their decision making within the frame of distributed organization .

2. It automatically monitors dynamic system , warns about present or future desired situation and suggests appropriate control actions to operators.

3. A DDSS is a collection of services that are organized in a dynamic, self – managed and self healing federation of hard and software entities working collectively for supporting the solutions of semi structured problems involving the contributions of several actors for improved decision making.

ASSUMPTIONS FOR DDSS1. Not necessarily data intensive2. Two data units which are not related can

always be physically stored in different storage devices.

3. It is based on the global, distributed architecture of the Internet

4. Can survive on unreliable network5. It enhances mobility6. Does not replace face to face meetings, it

promotes and enhances them.

DATA

DATA

DATA

PDA

POSSIBLE CONFIGURATION OF A DISTRIBUTED DSS

Computers are dispersed throughout a single organization or several organizations

Computers are connected by a data commutation system

A common database is shared by all, but additional databases may exist

All computers are centrally coordinated with an information resource management plan

Input and Output operations are done within user departments

DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE HAS FIVE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

Distributed DSS Framework based on Multi-Agent Paradigm

DDSS framework can be built on multi-agent paradigm logically naturally

MAS could be defined as “a loosely-coupled network of asynchronous problem solvers that work together to solve problems that are beyond their individual capabilities”

MAS is suitable for design and framework of DDSS because of the following reasons:

It has a natural way to handle logically and physically distributed problems and to make distributed decision, which also can be easily supported by distributed component technique.

Agents interacting with each other can share distributed resources

Agents can accomplish mechanical tasks without the direct intervention of decision makers

An agent is an intelligent entity that can learn. By individual or organizational learning, the performance of the whole system is hopeful to be raised.

Codes of the legacy systems can be encapsulated by agents which can be implemented by component technique and promote the reusability of codes. The modularity of such systems allows their extensibility

MAS enhances the overall reliability and robustness

SERVICE REQUEST BROKER

PPA

DWA DMA MSA KSA

Decision Unit 2,3

Decision Unit 1

DDSS FRAMEWORK BASED ON MULTI – AGENT PARADIGM

COMPONENTS OF DISTRIBUTED GDSSA single-user DSS must provide single-user-single-model and single-user-multiple-model support, whereas a GDSS model base management system (MBMS) must support multiple-user-single-model and multiple-user-multiple-model support. A centralized GDSS induces three basic components:

1. A group model base management subsystem (GMBMS)2. A group database management subsystem (GDBMS)3. A group dialog generation and management subsystem (GDGMS)

These are precisely the components needed in a single-user DSS, except for the incorporation of group concerns. In the GDSS, all data are stored in the group database and models are stored in the group model base. The GMBMS controls all access to the individually owned and group-owned models in the model base.

A distributed GDSS allows each user to have an individual DSS and a GDSS. Each individual DSS consists of models and data for a particular user. The GDSS maintains the GMBMS and GDBMS, as well as controlling access to the GMBMS and GDBMS and coordination of the MBMSs of various individual DSSs (Liang 1988). During actual GDSS system use, the difference between the centralized and distributed GDSSs should be transparent to the users.

We generally use models to help us de ne, fiunderstand, organize, study, and solve problems. These range from simple mental models to complex mathematical simulation models. An important mission of a GDSS is to assist in the use of formal and informal models by providing appropriate model management. An appropriate model base management system for a GDSS can provide the following four advantages (Hwang 1985):

1. Reduction of redundancy, since models can be shared2. Increased consistency, since more than one decision maker will share the same model3. Increased exibility, since models can flbe upgraded and made available to all members of the group4. Improved control over the decision process, by controlling the quality of the models adopted.

A model base management system provides for at least the following ve basic functions fi(Blanning and King 1993):

1.Construction of new models2.Storage of existing and new models3.Access to and retrieval of existing models4.Execution of existing models5.Maintenance of existing models

MBMSs should also provide for model integration and selection. Model integration by using the existing model base as building blocks in the construction of new or integrated models is very useful when ad hoc or prototype models are desired. Model integration is needed in the production of operational MBMSs.

Executive Information SystemAn Executive Information System (EIS) is a type of management information system intended to facilitate and support the information and decision making needs of senior executives by providing easy access to both internal and external information relevant to meeting the strategic goals of the organization.

It is commonly considered as a specialized form of a Decision Support System (DSS) otherwise referred to as an Executive Support System (ESS).

The emphasis of EIS is on graphical displays and easy-to-use user interfaces. They offer strong reporting and drill-down capabilities.

In general, EIS are enterprise-wide DSS that help top-level executives analyze, compare, and highlight trends in important variables so that they can monitor performance and identify opportunities and problems.

Characteristics of Executive Information Systems1. Executive support systems are end-user

computerized information systems operated directly by executive managers.

2. They utilize newer computer technology in the form of data sources, hardware and programs, to place data in a common format, and provide fast and easy access to information.

3. They integrate data from a variety of sources both internal and external to the organization.

4. They focus on helping executives assimilate information quickly to identify problems and opportunities. In other words, EISs help executives track their critical success factors.

5. Tailored to Individual Executives : Each system is tailored to the needs and preferences of an individual user, and information is presented in a format which can most readily be interpreted. Although these characteristics apply to all EISs, each individual system can potentially differ in scope, nature, purpose and content, depending on the environment in which it is implemented.

COMPONENTSHardware

When talking about hardware for an EIS environment, we should focus on the hardware that meet executive’s needs. The executive must be put the first and the executive’s needs must be defined before the hardware can be selected. The basic computer hardware needed for a typical EIS includes four components: (1) Input data-entry devices. These devices allow the executive to enter, verify, and update data immediately; (2) The central processing unit (CPU), which is the kernel because it controls the other computer system components; (3) Data storage files. The executive can use this part to save useful business information, and this part also help the executive to search historical business information easily; (4) Output devices, which provide a visual or permanent record for the executive to save or read. This device refers to the visual output device or printer. In addition, with the advent of local area networks (LAN), several EIS products for networked workstations became available. These systems require less support and less expensive computer hardware. They also increase access of the EIS information to many more users within a company.

Software

Choosing the appropriate software is vital to design an effective EIS. Therefore, the software components and how they integrate the data into one system are very important. The basic software needed for a typical EIS includes four components:Text base software. The most common form of text is probably documents;Database. Heterogeneous databases residing on a range of vendor-specific and open computer platforms help executives access both internal and external data;Graphic base. Graphics can turn volumes of text and statistics into visual information for executives. Typical graphic types are: time series charts, scatter diagrams, maps, motion graphics, sequence charts, and comparison-oriented graphs (i.e., bar charts);Model base. The EIS models contain routine and special statistical, financial, and other quantitative analysis.Perhaps a more difficult problem for executives is chosing from a range of highly technical software packages. Ease of use, responsiveness to executives' requests, and price are all reasonable considerations. Further, it should be considered whether the package can run on existing hardware.

Interface

An EIS needs to be efficient to retrieve relevant data for decision makers, so the interface is very important. Several types of interfaces can be available to the EIS structure, such as scheduled reports, questions/answers, menu driven, command language, natural language, and input/output. It is crucial that the interface must fit the decision maker’s decision-making style. If the executive is not comfortable with the information questions/answers style, the EIS will not be fully utilized. The ideal interface for an EIS would be simple to use and highly flexible, providing consistent performance, reflecting the executive’s world, and containing help information and error messages.

Telecommunication

As decentralizing is becoming the current trend in companies, telecommunications will play a pivotal role in networked information systems. Transmitting data from one place to another has become crucial for establishing a reliable network. In addition, telecommunications within an EIS can accelerate the need for access to distributed data.

APPLICATIONSEIS enables executives to find those data according to user-defined criteria and promote information-based insight and understanding. Unlike a traditional management information system presentation, EIS can distinguish between vital and seldom-used data, and track different key critical activities for executives, both which are helpful in evaluate if the company is meeting its corporate objectives. After realizing its advantages, people have applied EIS in many areas, especially, in manufacturing, marketing, and finance areas.

Manufacturing

Basically, manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. It is a large branch of industry and of secondary production. Manufacturing operational control focuses on day-to-day operations, and the central idea of this process is effectiveness and efficiency. To produce meaningful managerial and operational information for controlling manufacturing operations, the executive has to make changes in the decision processes. EIS provides the evaluation of vendors and buyers, the evaluation of purchased materials and parts, and analysis of critical purchasing areas. Therefore, the executive can oversee and review purchasing operations effectively with EIS. In addition, because production planning and control depends heavily on the plant’s data base and its communications with all manufacturing work centers, EIS also provides an approach to improve production planning and control.

Marketing

In an organization, marketing executives’ role is to create the future. Their main duty is managing available marketing resources to create a more effective future. For this, they need make judgments about risk and uncertainty of a project and its impact on company in short term and long term. To assist marketing executives in making effective marketing decisions, an EIS can be applied. EIS provides an approach to sales forecasting, which can allow the market executive to compare sales forecast with past sales. EIS also offers an approach to product price, which is found in venture analysis. The market executive can evaluate pricing as related to competition along with the relationship of product quality with price charged. In summary, EIS software package enables marketing executives to manipulate the data by looking for trends, performing audits of the sales data, and calculating totals, averages, changes, variances, or ratios. All of these sales analysis functions help marketing executives to make final decisions.

Financial

A financial analysis is one of the most important steps to companies today. The executive (Eddie Frame) needs to use financial ratios and cash flow analysis to estimate the trends and make capital investment decisions. An EIS is a responsibility-oriented approach that integrated planning or budgeting with control of performance reporting, and it can be extremely helpful to finance executives. Basically, EIS focuses on accountability of financial performance and it recognizes the importance of cost standards and flexible budgeting in developing the quality of information provided for all executive levels. EIS enables executives to focus more on the long-term basis of current year and beyond, which means that the executive not only can manage a sufficient flow to maintain current operations but also can figure out how to expand operations that are contemplated over the coming years. Also, the combination of EIS and EDI environment can help cash managers to review the company’s financial structure so that the best method of financing for an accepted capital project can be concluded. In addition, the EIS is a good tool to help the executive to review financial ratios, highlight financial trends and analyze a company’s performance and its competitors.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGESAdvantages Easy for upper-level executives to use, extensive computer experience is not required in operationsProvides timely delivery of company summary informationInformation that is provided is better understoodFilters data for managementImproves to tracking informationOffers efficiency to decision makers

DisadvantagesFunctions are limited, cannot perform complex calculationsHard to quantify benefits and to justify implementation of an EISExecutives may encounter information overloadSystem may become slow, large, and hard to manageDifficult to keep current dataMay lead to less reliable and insecure dataSmall companies may encounter excessive costs for implementationHighly skilled personnel requirement can not be fulfilled by the small business.