Review of "Decision Support Systems: Current Practice and Continuing Challenges by Steven Alter", Addison-Wesley (1980).

Abstract

Alter says that instead of "belaboring the degree of overlap or nonoverlap between DSSs and EDP systems, we wi II simply concentrate on systems designed primarily to help people make decisions." (p. 1-2) The book contains many case studies. They are one of its most valuable features. Alter says that he was not able to find a general theory which could account for the success or failure of a DSS, or specify what features to include in one. He concentrates on identifying possible characteristics and implimentation strategies and examining various specific cases that illustrate them. He does not examine the use of micros for DSSs. The impact of human factors on the success or failure DSSs is well covered.