DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS A KNOWLEDGE-BASED APPROACH

PHILOSOPHY/APPROACH: This text proposes to have a knowledge-based view of decision making and decision support, which is intended to provide a broader and deeper perspective on DSS. It also intends to support both individual and distributed decision making. Do you agree with this orientation? Does the enclosed material reflect these issues, and have they been implemented successfully in these chapters?

R1 The authors present Decision Support Systems in a way that is innovative, interesting, and informative. Their knowledge-based approach offers a foundation that helped me to tie together in my mind all the disparate areas of Decision Support Systems. I must admit that in my review of the front half of the book, I had difficulty seeing how this approach was going to work. Seeing it operationalized in the second half helped a lot.

R2 The knowledge-based approach is very welcome and helps the reader to reexamine many of the things already known in a new light. I suppose the most enjoyable thing about reviewing this manuscript is that I myself am learning to look at things with a fresh perspective.

R3 I like the knowledge-based approach. Actually, I agree with the authors that one of the unique features of this proposed text is the knowledge-based view of decision making and decision support. Further, this knowledge-based orientation was implemented well in the enclosed material in general, Part III (chapter 9 to chapter 11) in particular.

R4 The idea of a knowledge-based overview of DSS is very appealing. I think that this is the logical next step in thinking about information systems in general. In the 1960s, people like Gary Dickson were arguing that information is an asset that needs to be managed just like other key assets of the organization. This idea is well accepted now. The logical next step is to take "the ante" one level higher and view knowledge as an asset that needs to be managed; this appears to be the view that Holsapple and Whinston are taking.

The material I reviewed seems to reflect the stated philosophy and to implement it reasonably well. Certainly, the presentation in chapters 9, 10, and 11 of knowledge management techniques is consistent with the philosophy.

R5 I agree with the author that there is no book out there that provides both the conceptual underpinnings and the practical applications of DSS. I have experimented with almost all of the texts mentioned (Sprague and Carlson, Bidgoli, Turban, Mittra and others) and have found them all lacking in major areas. After reviewing the Table of Contents and reading the first three chapters, I believe that the book would fill a gap that exists by providing a bridge between application and theory.

R6 The knowledge based approach fits the subject matter of these chapters very well.

R7 I agree with the orientation.

R8 It is clear that the authors have taken a fairly unique approach to the material that they have chosen to include. The text is eminently readable and they try to cover both the broad concept of decision support systems and the deeper concept of how these systems are derived and why they are derived in this manner.

R9 When I began reviewing this book last year, I was skeptical of the "knowledge-based" approach. My skepticism has now been completely overcome. I finally realized that what the authors were getting at was the use of "object-based" knowledge elements to describe the subject matter.

I am frankly, overwhelmed by the amount of work that has gone into this effort. In my humble opinion, this book may become a new classic, for it defines the elements of a DSS at a level never before attempted, with a fresh perspective borne of the emerging object-based technologies of the Nineties. I thought I knew a lot about how to organize and classify the elements of a DSS, but I have gleaned more from this manuscript, already, than I would have thought possible. What this book will become is the definitive source of basic knowledge on what constitutes the innards of a DSS.

R10 I approve of the knowledge-based approach, particularly in that it includes expert systems. I don't think DSS will survive long-term as a discipline without this inclusion

R11 I do buy into the knowledge-based approach, and the text would appear to be a great implementation of the approach.

R2 As stated above, coverage is completely appropriate . Part V covers a wide and useful range of topics.

R3 I don't see any important topics missing, and I do see some new and interesting ones as a result of the knowledge orientation. In terms of my covering topics, I must admit that I usually choose topics after I get a feel for the interests of the course members. Sometimes students seem overly interested in the conceptual material related to DSS, sometimes in the details of the IFPS Plus package.

If time allows, I may address this coverage of expert systems. I may also simply ask the students to skim the material to get a sense of what is presented, then discuss it in a single lecture. This would serve as a brief introduction to the stand-alone ES elective course which we offer about as frequently as the DSS course. I would try to cover as many topics as possible in Part V, which is quite interesting.

R4 I think the text covers the necessary topics, based on what it is in the Table of Contents. If I were to teach this course using this book, I think I would cover all of these topics in the order they are presented in the text.

R5 Based on the table of contents, the text does appear to cover the necessary topics. There are no major topics missing.

Part III surveys the important objects and processing methods for thirteen different management techniques used in the decision support systems such as expression management, text management, etc. This part should definitely be included.

Part IV focuses on the artificially intelligent DSS (chapter 12-15). It provides a thorough introduction to DSS that embody concepts from the field of AI. This is a very important section which covers all the important AI/ES related concepts and theory.

R7 The Table of Contents is rather complete. In my earlier review, I said that I would probably limit the coverage of several of the areas in Part V, and that I would limit coverage of Chapter 4.

My coverage of Part V would definitely include Chapters 16 and 17. The other chapters would be treated as 'padding' - I would cover them if I had the extra time. They would be on the syllabus, but I do not always make it through everything on the syllabus!!

R8 The topics I expect to be covered are there. I particularly like the introductory material, especially with the emphasis on excellence, and the concluding chapter on the knowledge based organization.

R9 Based on the table of contents, the text does appear to cover the necessary topics. There are no major topics missing.

R10 The Table of Contents looks pretty thorough in covering necessary topics for a DSS course, especially if the objectives (as stated) are to provide both a broader and deeper perspective.

R11 I think the text covers the necessary topics, based on what it is in the Table of Contents. If I were to teach this course using this book, I think I would cover all of these topics in the order they are presented in the text.

ORGANIZATION:

R1 The text is well organized.

R2 Organization is fine.

R3 The proposed text is very well organized. I would probably cover the topics in the order listed.

R4 I think the overall text is well organized, based on the TOC and based on the other chapters I have seen. I probably would cover the chapters in the order listed.

R5 Based on the Table of Contents section, the overall text is well organized. I would cover the chapters in the order that the authors suggest if I decide to adopt this text for my course.

R6 The text is well organized.

R8 In general, I like the sequencing of the text. I might be tempted to cover EIS (chapter 18) before the GDSS, because the transition from DSS and ES to EIS is less abrupt.

R9 As mentioned previously, I think Chapters One and Nineteen serve as an excellent introduction and conclusion.

READABILITY/WRITING STYLE/LEVEL: Are these chapters written in a clear, readable and interesting manner? Is the writing style consistently even? If not, which chapters need improvement? Is the level appropriate for the advanced undergraduate/graduate audience?

R1 These chapters were generally clear, readable, and consistent.

R2 Writing is clear and consistent.

R3 The writing style is generally lively, clear and readable. It should appeal to a wide range of readers.

R4 The writing style continues to be clear, readable, and interesting. The style is consistent across chapters, and the level is appropriate for the intended audience.

R5 The writing style of this manuscript is clear and readable. Furthermore, the material presented in this manuscript is at about the right level for my students.

R6 In general, I thought the writing style to be clear, readable, and interesting in all the chapters I read. The style is consistent across chapters, and the level is appropriate for the intended audience.

R7 A good textbook for our undergraduate/graduate class.

R8 The readability is superior, very clear, very readable, and very interesting. This is an extremely well-written book. The authors have a way of describing very complex phenomena in a very understandable manner. This is a wonderful book.

R9 The writing style is very good. It is consistent and appropriate for seniors and masters level students.

R10 For the most part, the chapters that I read were clear and readable. There seems to be a continuity from chapter to chapter on how material is presented.

R11 In general, the text is clearly written. Indeed, many of the complex sentences roll effortlessly.

COMPETITIVENESS: Based on the enclosed materials, what do you think would be the major strengths and weaknesses of this proposed text? Please be specific. What do you feel are its distinctive features? How do these chapters compare to like chapters in your current text? Are they better than, equal to, or not as good as those of your current text?

R1 The key strength of this textbook is its distinctive "knowledge-based" approach. This approach is innovative and it also helps to tie together the very disparate areas of Decision Support Systems.

R3 Strengths: a. Knowledge-based approach. b. The coverage of different kinds of multiparticipant DSS and technology. c. The video to accompany applications descriptions. d. Up-to-date and accurate theoretical coverage. I agree with the authors that (1) this proposed text does provide several distinctive features, (2) this proposed text does have a better coverage on the subject of different knowledge management techniques.

R4 The major strengths of the book, based on the materials I reviewed, would be its focus on knowledge management and on both individual and collaborative decision-making. Another strength is the detailed presentation in the chapters I read.

R5 Based on the enclosed materials, I think that the text's strength is the application of knowledge-based systems to the management decision making process. The author takes the proper perspective by first inspecting the manager's decision making process and then showing how DSS fits into, complements and enhances that process. This book adds significantly to the DSS body of work. The extension of DSS beyond individuals to teams, groups and organizations is new and interesting. The Review Questions and Discussion Topics at the end of each chapter are well thought out.

R6 A major strength of this text is the comprehensive understanding of DSS and DSS-related issues it conveys. The authors themselves constitute a key asset.

R7 Strengths: 1) the textbook is readable, 2) video tape is available, 3) coverage of knowledge chapter.

R8 This is an excellent book. I enjoyed reading my assigned sections.

R9 Having now reviewed 14 of the 19 chapters of this book, my opinion of the quality of this effort continues to grow. This is going to be one heck-of-a-book. I'm looking forward to the remaining chapters. Thanks again for the opportunity to provide input.

R10 Major strengths are the materials covered. I also like the "knowledge-based" approach. The application videos could be a major marketing strength - I've had problems conveying what we mean by DSS - students oftentimes don't grasp the idea very well until they are well into their projects. The videos could help a lot.

R11 One strength is the knowledge approach as a common thread throughout the text. This is new and in my view appropriate. Another strength would be the authors. Another strength is the obvious lack of viable texts on the market.