California State University, Los Angeles
Center for Newly Independent States Studies (CNISS)
offers a Distance Learning course
DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
By Dr. Parviz Partow
1 9 9 7
Course ID: DSS
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
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This Distance Learning (DL) course uses as
a text "The Decision Support and Expert Systems" monograph
prepared by Professor Parviz Partow of California State University,
Los Angeles. The course is designed for managers and professionals
with an introductory knowledge of Information Technology (IT).
OBJECTIVE OF
COURSE
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Computer applications for management support are on the rise. Major
organizations banks, insurance firms, government agencies use computerized
analysis in their decision making.
Companies are developing distributed systems that permit uncomplicated
accessibility to data saved in several locations. Many information systems
are being integrated with each other. Managers can make better decisions
because they have access to more accurate information. In spite of all these advancements many managers are not using computers at all, or are using them predominately to support rudimentary decisions. Decision Support Systems, Expert Systems, and Artificial Neural Networks are the leading technologies planned to alter this condition. The objective of this course is to introduce the fundamentals of the techniques and the way they are being developed and use for practical cases such as financial planning, and production management.
INSTRUCTOR
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The instructor for the course is Dr. Parviz Partow, Professor of the Information Systems at California State University, Los Angeles. Along with teaching graduate and undergraduate Information Systems courses, Dr. Partow is the Deputy Director of CSULA's Computer Professional Internship Program. He is also a highly active information system consultant in the areas of expert systems, simulation, financial and planning modeling. He has an MBA and PH.D. in Operations Research from University of Texas at Austin.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
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The course is divided into eight sessions as follows:
Chapter Topic
SYLLABUS
The following paragraphs briefly overview each of the sections of the course.
Chapter 1 Management Support Systems
Management Support Systems refers to a collection of computerized technologies whose objective is to support managerial work and decision making process. This chapter provides an overview of the course and covers the following topics:
Managers and Computerized Support
Decision Support Framework
Differences Between MIS and DSS
Chapter 2 Decision Making Process
The main focus of this course is computerized support of decision making. This chapter provides the necessary conceptual foundations regarding decision making and systems approach, and how support is provided. This chapter discusses the following issues:
Chapter 3 An Overview of DSS
The methodology of decision making was considered in the previous chapter. In this chapter, we show how DSS superiority is achieved by examining its capabilities, structure, and classifications.
The following topics are presented:
Chapter 4 Modeling and Model Management
In this chapter the modeling process and its management are presented. The outline of this chapter is:
Chapter 5 Group DSS
Most complex decisions in organizations are made by groups of people. As complexity of organizational decision making increases, the need for meetings and working in groups increases.
The preparations for such meetings and the conduct of them can be a complex process. Therefore, a computerized support may be appropriate. Such a system is referred to as Group Decision Support Systems. Topics covered in this chapter are:
What is a Group DSS (GDSS)?
Chapter 6 Executive Information System (EIS)
Most DSS users are professionals (e.g., financial analysts, loan officers, or production scheduler) or middle managers. Very seldom, however, are DSS used directly by top executives. Why is this so? What are the needs of top executives and what is needed in computerbased information systems to make them more appropriate for the upper managerial levels? For answers we examine the executive information and support system. This chapter is divided into the following sections:
Chapter 7 Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is a subdivision of computer science devoted to creating computer software and hardware that attempts to produce results such as those produced by people. The concept of artificial intelligence and the commercial applications that result from research in this area may change the way some organizations operate and are managed. This chapter covers the following topics:
Chapter 8 Fundamentals of Expert Systems (ES)
Expert Systems is the most managerially challenging area of AI. In this chapter we try to show why. The following topics are discussed here:
COURSE ADMINISTRATION
The course involves six major activities: registration, an initial class meeting, course
study segments, obtaining and responding to examination questions, an interactive
questions/answers, and obtaining a grade and a certificate of completion.
Details on each will be supplied with the registration verification.
Registration
Announcements and registration forms can be obtained from participating universities/organizations. Completed registration forms with payment will be returned to the designated course coordinator at the participating university/organization.
Confirmation of registration with appropriate course material will then be given to the student.
Initial Class Meeting
Course participants will meet as a group with the course coordinator at each participating university/organization. During the meeting, the Internet material will be distributed and demonstrated; and selfstudy, testing, and grading approaches will be explained.
SelfStudy Sessions
Each of the chapters will be studied and any questions will be sent to the course instructor.
Examination Questions
A course coordinator will request examination questions via e-mail.
Students will answer questions and return them for grading to the instructor.
The student grades and any instructor comments will be returned to the course
coordinator or to a student.
Question/Answer Methodology
Students are encouraged to submit comments and questions to the course instructor.
Grades and Certificates of Completion
Course grades and certificates of completion will be forwarded to the course coordinator
who will distribute them to the students.
To apply, please send your e-mail to: cniss@calstatela.edu
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