EDBS Important Q&A

What are the four stages of decision making described by Simon?

Simon's four stages of decision making are:
· Intelligence: identification of problems, where and why. Information systems can deliver a wide variety of detailed information.
· Design: designing a set of multiple solutions for problems. Small DSS systems operate on simple models that can be developed quickly and operated with little data to support the designers.
· Choice: choosing among alternatives. Larger DSS can be used to develop more extensive data on a variety of alternatives and use complex analytic models to account for all of the consequences.

Implementation: monitoring the progress of a specific solution. Reporting systems can be used to obtain information on specific solutions

What are the four kinds of computer-based information systems that support decisions?

The four kinds of computer-based information systems that support decisions (from lowest to highest) are:
Transaction processing systems (TPS
Management information systems (MIS)
Decision support systems (DSS)
Executive support systems (ESS)

What is the CPM?

Critical Path Method (CPM), is a procedure forusing network analysis to identify those tasks whichare on the critical path: ie where any delay in thecompletion of these tasks will lengthen the projecttimescale, unless action is taken.For all tasks off the critical path, a degree oftolerance is possible (eg. late start, late completion,early start, etc.).Network charts and CPM analysis used to be carriedout by hand.Software is now available which requires the useronly to enter the tasks, duration of each task anddependencies upon other tasks; a network chart andCPM is then automatically created.