What are decision support and executive support systems and their characteristics?

Decision support and executive support systems

Decision Support System-DSS: Decision support is a comprehensive computer-based information system, which helps management in decision-making. Such systems collect various business data and generate reports, which help in future decision making. Data is collected in transaction processing systems, reports are prepared using data stored in management information systems, and decision support systems analyze the status of reports to assist in decision making. DSS can be used by middle managers as well as top managers. DSS helps managers to make semi-structured, unique or rapidly changing decisions. It is used on a daily basis by the shipping manager to execute a variety of contracts.

Features of Decision Support System:

(i) Decision support systems use sophisticated analysis and modeling tools.

(ii) DSS helps the manager in taking semi-structured, unique or rapidly changing decisions.

(iii) DSS is used by middle and top level managers.

(v) It helps the user to activate and control inputs and outputs.

(vi) Such a system is more concerned with internal than external matters.

(v) It is used in cases where decisions and problems cannot be solved in advance.

Executive Support System (ESS): The information system used by senior managers to make decisions is called an executive support system. Executive support systems provide strategic information needed by top management. Use ESS internal MIS and DSS summary information. Computerized executive information systems aim to provide appropriate information to top executives so that executives can take appropriate strategies.

Features of Executive Support System:

(i) Executive support system operates at the strategic level of the organization.

(ii) Decisions at this stage are unstructured.

(iii) This system is very easy to understand and operate.

(iv) This system is mostly used for graphical or pictorial display.

(v) Executive support system is essential for middle and top level executives.

Interrelationship between different types of information systems

Different information systems perform different functions at different levels of an organization's organization. For example, a system is designing the daily activities of various departments of an organization such as buying and selling, production, stock protection, etc. and a system is analyzing the information or data required for management. For example, a transaction processing system is modernized from a database by storing and processing the day-to-day activities of a business, such as buying and selling, production, stock keeping, etc. This database provides information required for Management Information System, Decision Support System, Executive Information System. Therefore, interrelation exists between various information systems of an organization.