Abstract
The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the design for a generic Information System Development Support System (IS/DSS), i.e., a computer-based system to assist the various participants involved in developing an information system. A secondary objective is to demonstrate, by example, the types of considerations and design implications involved when attempting to develop a DBMS-based DSS.
IS/DSS’s are not new. A number in fact have been partially or completely implemented and reported in the literature with many more on the way. Some have been partially successful; however the majority have been singularly unsuccessful and have atrophied and died. Still, there are good reasons to continue to develop such systems, which will be taken up in the second section of the paper.
The approach this paper will take towards the first objective is to begin with a critical examination of the ISD process in the context of what might be called a “relativist” or contingent view of ISD. From this view it will be seen that a number of alternative schemata’s or world-views are necessary if ISD support is to be successful over a variety of organizational settings, objectives and participants.
Next, to progress towards a design basis for the generic IS/DSS, the concepts and technology of DBMS will be explored. The isomorphism between ISD schemata’s (to be called “frames”) and DBMS (conceptual) schemas will be taken up. This will, of course, lead directly to a confrontation with the problems faced by DBMS conceptual schema development when applied to the area of information systems development (ISD). This confrontation will be examined and a solution offered.
The issue of constructing a DBMS-centered support system also raises the issues addressed by the DSS area. After a brief discussion of these issues, a resolution is proposed which favours a front-end knowledge-base/back-end DBMS system approach to the development of an IS/DSS.
Finally, the schematas of some existing IS/DSS approaches are examined. The comparison is then made with the proposed generic IS/DSS and some final comments are made regarding the implementation of such a system.
Regarding the second objective, we will attempt to highlight, as we proceed, the issues and considerations which have gone into the specification of the proposed IS/DSS as a template for how other DBMS-based DSS’ might be evolved.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Ackoff, R. L., “Towards a System of Systems Concepts,” Management Science, Vol. 17, No. 11, July, 1971, pp. 661–671.
Alter, S., Decision Support Systems: Current Practices and Continuing Challenges, New York: Addison-Wesley, 1980.
Alter, S., and M. Ginzberg, “Managing Uncertainty in MIS Implementation,” Sloan Management Review, Fall, 1978, pp. 23–31.
Ashby, W., Design for a Brain, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2nd ed., 1960.
Bever, M., W. Gaube, P. Lockeman, and H. Mayr, “Method Base Systems: A Tool for Decision Support,” a paper to be presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Data Base and Applications, Estoril, Portugal, June 1981.
Biggs, S., “Group Participation in MIS Project Teams, Let’s Look at the Contingencies First!,” MIS Quarterly, March 1978, pp. 19–26.
Biller, H. and E. Neuhold, “Semantics of Data Bases: The Semantics of Data Models,” Information Systems, Vol. 3, 1978, pp. 11–30.
Bobrow, D. and T. Winograd, “An Overview of KRL, A Knowledge Representation Language,” Cognitive Science, Vol. 1, No. January 1977, pp. 3–46.
Bonczek, R. C. Holsapple, and A. Whinston, “Design and Implementation of an Information Base for Decision Makers,” AFIPS Conference Proceedings: 1977 National Computer Conference, New Jersey: AFIPS Press, 1977, pp. 855–863.
Bonczek, R. C. Holsapple, and A. Whinston, “Computer-Based Support of Organizational Decision Making,” Decision Science, Vol. 10, 1979, pp. 268–291.
Brachman, R., and B. Smith (eds.), “Special Issue on Knowledge Representation,” SIGART Newsletter, No. 70, February 1980.
Brachman, R., “A Structural Paradigm for Representing Knowledge,” Report No. 3605, New York: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Inc., 1978.
Brookes, C., “Incorporating Text Based Information Within a Decision Support System,” Working Paper, Kensington NSW, Australia: University of NSW, 1981.
Checkland, P., “Towards a Systems-Based Methodology for Real-World Prolem-Solving,” in: J. Beishon and G. Peters (eds.), Systems Behaviour, New York: Harper and Row, 1976, (2nd ed.), pp. 51–77.
Chen, P., “The Entity-Relationship Model — Toward a Unified View of Data,” ACM Transactions of Database Systems, Vol. 1, No. 1, March 1976, pp. 9–36.
Churchman, C.W., The Design of Inquiring Systems: Basic Concepts of Systems and Organization, New York: Basic Books, 1971.
Cook, S., and R. Stamper, “LEGOL as a Tool for the Study of Bureucracy,” in: H. Lucas, F. Land, T. Lincoln, and K. Supper (eds.): The Information Systems Environment, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1980.
Davenport, R., “Logical Data Base Design: From Entity Model to DBMS Structure,” The Australian Computer Journal, Vol. 11, No. 3, August 1979.
De Marco, T., Structured Analysis and System Specification, New York: Yourdon, Press, 1978.
DJR and Associates, FMS-80: The File Management System User’s Manual and Reference, Silver Spring, MD: Rodman Productions, 1978.
Elam, J., J. Henderson, and L. Miller “Model Management Systems An Approach to Decision Support in Complex Organizations,” in: E.R. McLean (ed.): Proceedings of the First International Conference on Information Systems, Chicago, SMIS, 1980, pp. 98–110.
Gerrity, T., “Design of Man-machine Decision-making: An Application to Portfolio Management,” Sloan Management Review, Vol. 12, No. 2, Winter 1971, pp. 59–75.
Goldstein, I. and D. Bobrow, “Extending Object Oriented Programming in Small-talk,” Conference Record of the 1980 LISP Conference, Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University, 1980, pp. 75–81.
Ginzberg, M, M., “DSS Success Measurement and Facilitation,” paper to be presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Data Base and Applications, Estoril, Portugal, June, 1981.
Goossen, J. and R. Welke, “Systems Mapping of PSL/PSA to Structured Analysis (with an application to a YOURDON case study),” ISRAM Working Paper, WP 8101–2.0, Hamilton, ONT: McMaster University, 1981.
Goossen, J., “An Examination of Computer Supported Analysis and Documentation Tools and their Application to Systems Development Techniques,” ISRAM Working Paper WP-8105–2. 0, Hamilton, ON: McMaster University, May, 1981.
Hafner, C., “Representation of Expert Knowledge in a Legal Database System,” Tech Report, GMR, Warren, MI: General Motors Research Laboratories, 1979.
Hawryszkiewycz, I., “Alternative Implementations of the Conceptual Schema,” Information Systems, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1980, pp, 203–218.
Hewitt, C., P. Bishop, and R. Steiger, “A Universal Modular ACTOR Formalism for Artificial Intelligence,” IJCAI III, Stanford CA, 1973, pp. 235–245.
Holsapple, C., A Primer on Data Base Management Systems, Lafayette, IN: Micro Data Base Systems, Inc., 1980
ISDOS, Problem Statment Analyzer Report and Report Commands, ISDOS Project Ref. No. 79A51–0171–1, Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan.
Juergens, H., “Attributes of Information System Development,” MIS Quarterly, June 1977, pp. 31–41.
Johnson, P., D. Severance, and A. Feltovich, “Design of Decision Support Systems in Medicine: Rationale and Principles for the Analysis of Physician Expertise,” Working Paper, Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, 1977.
Kangalasso, H., “Structuring Principles of Conceptual Schemas and Conceptual Models,” in: Bubenko, J. (ed.), Information Modelling. Lund: Studentliteratur, 1981.
Kenn, P. and M. Scott Morton, Decision Support Systems: An Organizational Perspective, New York: John Wiley, 1978.
Klein, H. and R. Hirscheim, “Is the Entity-Relationship Model a Basis for the Enterprise View of Data?,” ISRAM Discussion Paper DP-8101–1. 2, Hamilton, ON: McMaster University, 1981.
Klein, H., I. Meadows and R. Welke, “Improving the Quality of Working Life (QWL) Through Information Systems Development,” to appear in Lasky, G. (ed.), Proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Systems Research and Cybernetics, Pergamon Press, 1981.
Kent, W., Data and Reality, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1978.
Koberg, D. and J. Bagnall, The Universal Traveller, Los Altos, CA: Kaufmann, Inc., 1972.
Kolf, F. and H. Oppelland, “A Design Oriented Aproach in Implementation Research: The Project PORGI,” in: N. Szyperski and E. Grochia (eds.), Design and Implementation of Computer-based Information Systems, Alphen aan den Rijn: Sijhoff and Noordhoff, 1979.
Land, F., “Evaluation of Systems Goals in Determining a Design Strategy for a Computer Based Information System,” The Computer Journal, Vol. 19, No. 4, November, 1976, pp. 290–294.
Langefors, B., Theoretical Analysis of Information Systems: First Volume, Lund: Studentliteratur, 1970.
Lieberman, A., “Mechanized Analysis of Entity-Relationship Design Databases,” in: P. Chen (ed.), Entity-Relationship Approach to Systems Analysis and Design, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 190, pp. 641–663.
Lieberman, A., The ERA/ERE User Manual, New Jersey: A. Lieberman, 1980.
Lucas, H., The Analysis, Design and Implementation of Information Systems, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976.
Martin, J., Computer Data-Base Organization, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1975.
MDBS, User’s Manual: MDBS.DMS, MDBS.DDL, Lafayette, IN: Micro Data Base Systems, Inc., 1979.
Mendes, K. S., “Structured Systems Analysis: A Technique to Define Business Requirements,” Sloan Management Review, Vol. 21, No. 4, Summer, 1980, pp. 51–63.
Miller, G. A., “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information,” Psychological Review, Vol. 63, March, 1956, pp. 81–97.
Miller, J. G., Living Systems, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
Mumford, E. and M. Weir, Computer Systems in Work Design: The ETHICS Method, London: Associated Business Press, 1979.
Newell, A. and H. Simon, Human Problem Solving, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1972.
Piaget, J., The Construction of Reality in the Child, New York: Basic Books, 1954.
Sage, A. P., Methodology for Large-Scale Systems, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977.
Simon, H., Models of Man, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1957.
Skuce, D., “LESK — Language for Exactly Stating Knowledge,” Working Paper, Ottawa, ON: University of Otawa, 1979.
Stamper, R., “Towards a Semantic Normal Form,” in; G. Bracci and G. M. Nijssen (eds.), Data Base Architecture, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1979.
Stohr, E., “The Systems Development Process: A Data-Theoretic Approach,” in: E. R. McLean (ed.): Proceedings of the First International Conference on Information Systems, Chicago: SMIS, 1980, pp. 144–163.
Stohr, E. and M. Tanniru, “A Database for Operation Research Models,” Policy Analysis and Information Systems, Vol. 4, No. 2, December, 1980.
Szyperski, N., “State of the Art of Implementation Research on Computer-based Information Systems,” in: N. Szyperski and E. Grochla (eds.), Design and Implementation of Computer-based Information Systems, Alphen aan den Rijn: Sijthoff and Noordhoff, 1979.
Taggart, W. and M. Tharp, “Dimensions of Information Requirements Analysis,” Data Base, Vol. 17, Summer, 1975, pp. 5–13.
Teichroew D. and E. A. Hershey III, “PSL/PSA: A Computer-Aided Technique for Structured Documentation and Analysis of Information Processing Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol. SE-3, No. 1, January, 1977.
Tremblay, J., P. Sorenson, E. Wig and D. Perkins, “A Survey of Automated Aids for Systems Analysis and Documentation,” Working Paper, Saskatoon, SASK: University of Saskatoon, 1980.
Weinberg, G. M., An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, New York: John Wiley amp; Sons, 1975.
Welke, R., and K. Kumar, “An ERA-based Anayst Support System for BIAIT,” ISRAM Working Paper WP-8010–2.0”, Hamilton, ON: McMaster University; presented at the ACM-80 Conference, Nashville, TN.
Wig, E, E., “Computer-Aided Systems Anaysis Reporting,” Working Paper, Saskatoon, SASK: University of Saskatoon, 1979.
Will, H., “Management Information Systems — Intelligence Structures and Intelligence Processors,” in: H. Will (ed.) Management Information Systems and the Public Services, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970.
Winograd, T., “Frame Representations and the Declarative-Procedural Controversy,” in D. Bobrow and A. Collins, Representation and Understanding, New York: Academic Press, 1975.
Woods, W., “Transition Network Grammars for Natural Language Analysis,” Communications of the ACM, Vol. 13, 1970, pp. 591–606.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 D. Reidel Publishing Company
About this paper
Cite this paper
Welke, R.J. (1983). IS/DSS: DBMS Support for Information Systems Development. In: Holsapple, C.W., Whinston, A.B. (eds) Data Base Management: Theory and Applications. Nato Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 98. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7029-8_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7029-8_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7031-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7029-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive