Information Systems in Management Science—Decision Support Systems: The New Technology of Decision Making?

One of the most important limitations—or perhaps the most important limitation—of OR/MS is that it takes too long to complete an OR/MS study. Many managerial situations are such that a quick response is mandatory; if we cannot provide a fast answer, management will proceed without us. This is well known; but it was Franz Edelman [Edelman, Franz. 1977. They went thataway. Interfaces7 (3, May) 39–43.] who, in the May 1977 issue of Interfaces in his article “They Went Thataway,” rang the alarm bell on this shortcoming of OR/MS. He not only gave us warning, but proposed a solution to our problem via Decision Support Systems. In fact, TIMS College on the Practice of Management Science (CPMS) went so far as to adopt the following resolution: “… formulate a set of strategies to deal with the relationship between Management Science and the Information Systems disciplines to maximize the effectiveness of Management Science.” Decision Support Systems are a type of information system; both Edelman's proposition and this resolution fall within my bailiwick and therefore I made it my business to inquire into the nature of Decision Support Systems. Here I share with you the summary of my findings.