Session 1

MBA Management Information Systems 150:249 -- D. Power

Today's Agenda -- Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006

• Welcome
• About D. Power and DSSResources.com
• Check Class Roster
• Visit DSSResources.COM, esp. course pages. User name and Password
• Discuss syllabus, schedule and grading
• Questions about course objectives, organization, etc.
• Finding and downloading Excel files for tutorials. Check Data Files directory.
• Ask Dan! What do managers need to know about IS/IT, MIS and DSS?
1. how to apply information technology in complex and sustained situations and to understand the consequences of doing so
2. the foundations on which information technology and applications are built
3. current or contemporary computing skills
• Lecture Ch. 1 "Supporting Business Decision Making"
• break
• Lecture Ch. 2 "Gaining Competitive Advantage with DSS"
• Questions for review Ch. 1 and 2:
1. What assumptions should be met prior to considering implementation of a specific DSS?
2. What are four major milestones in the historical evolution of Decision Support Systems?
3. How does a transaction processing system (TPS) differ from a decision support system (DSS)?
4. What are the 5 categories or types of DSS in the expanded DSS framework?
5. What are the 4 traditional DSS components? How is each component linked to the expanded DSS framework?
6. What is an example of a company that obtained a competitive advantage from a Decision Support System? What type of DSS was implemented?
7. How can DSS provide a firm a competitive advantage?
8. What are the potential benefits of a DSS?
9. What factors affect the level of risk associated with DSS projects?
• Overview Ask Dan! What type of DSS is X?; comments Ask Dan! What is a Spreadsheet-based DSS?
• Is the IS/IT system a DSS? Characteristics: Facilitation, Interaction, Ancillary, Repeated Use, Task-oriented, Identifiable, Decision Impact.
• Lab work Rm. 224: Check lecture slide shows, cases, Ask Dan FAQ
• Take the DSS Web Tour at DSSResources.COM; read news

To Do and Upcoming

For Class Session 2 -- Sat. Nov. 11

• Start Excel Review; Excel Review Questions
• Tutorial 1, session 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 -- You will submit printouts at start of class Nov. 15 (10 pts.)
• Check tutorials at Duke Excel Review

For Class Session 3 -- Wed., Nov. 15

• 10 pt. quiz Ch. 1&2
• Printouts Tutorial #1
• Case due by email on or before 11/22: Power & Roth “Ertl's Decision Support Journey” (5 page analysis). If you are struggling with the analysis, my comments in the Ask Dan! in DSS Applications titled "What are the answers to the DSS case study questions at DSSResources.COM?" might help. The link is URL dssresources.com/faq/index.php? sid=4507&lang=en&action=artikel&cat=9&id=95&artlang=en