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DSS News (tm)
August 14, 2000--Vol. 1, No. 8
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Please visit http://www.dssresources.com
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Featured:
* Ask Dan! -- What do managers need to know about IS/IT, MIS and DSS?
* DSS News Stories
* What's New at DSSResources.COM
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Ask Dan!
What do managers need to know about IS/IT, MIS and DSS?
In the academic field of Information Systems we have repeatedly asked
the question "What do managers need to know about IS/IT, MIS and DSS?"
All of us know that managers CAN NOT know everything about Information
Systems and Decision Support Systems. We also know that Information
Systems specialists and IS managers CAN NOT know everything about DSS,
MIS and IS/IT either. So what does a broad group of line and staff
managers need to know about IS/IT, MIS and DSS?
Our DSS, Computing and IT knowledge and skill needs are constantly
evolving. We all need to continually learn new concepts and new skills.
Some new requirements build on previously learned materials; others
force us to change dramatically and to "un" learn what we had learned.
A report from the Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and
Applications titled "Being Fluent with Information Technology" (1999)
provides a contemporary perspective on this general question. Check
URL http://www.nap.edu/books/030906399X/html/.
I agree with the authors that people and especially managers need three
types of knowledge about Information Technology. They label these as
intellectual capabilities, fundamental concepts, and
contemporary skills. The reports provides details on each knowledge
area. I'll try to summarize with a focus on knowledge needs of
managers.
Managers need to develop the ability to apply information technology in
complex and sustained situations and to understand the consequences of
doing so. Some intellectual capabilities needed
include an ability to:
1. engage in sustained reasoning about IT including defining a
problem, formulating a solution, and planning, designing,
executing, and evaluating a solution,
2. manage complexity,
3. test a solution,
4. "debug" and cope when technological tools fail,
5. organize and navigate information structures and evaluate
information,
6. collaborate on IT tasks,
7. use technology appropriately when communicating with others,
8. expect the unexpected,
9. anticipate changing technologies, and
10. think about information technology abstractly.
Managers need to learn the foundations on which information technology
and applications are built. Some key fundamental concepts include:
1. computers,
2. information and decision support systems,
3. networks,
4. digital representation of information,
5. information organization,
6. modeling and abstraction,
7. algorithmic thinking and programming,
8. universality (any computational task can be performed by any
computer),
9. limitations of information technology, and
10. societal impact of information and information technology.
Skills refer to the ability to use particular hardware or software
resources to accomplish information processing tasks. Managers need
current or contemporary skills including:
1. using a PC and basic operating system features,
2. using a word processor to create a text document,
3. using a graphics and/or artwork package to create illustrations,
slides, or other image-based expressions of ideas,
4. connecting a computer to a network,
5. using the Internet to find information and resources,
6. using a database system to set up and access useful information,
7. using a spreadsheet to model simple processes or financial
tables,
8. using a computer to communicate with others, and
9. using instructional materials to learn how to use new
applications or features.
In my opinion, managers need to be fluent and proficient in the use of
Information Technologies and especially in capabilities, concepts and
skills related to DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS. In two weeks, I'll
focus on what managers need to know specifically about Decision Support
Systems.
Note to DSS News Subscribers: If you have opinions on this question,
please email me or post to the DSSResources.COM bulletin board.
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DSS News Stories
08/14/2000 Sagent awarded $10 Million contract by U.S. Department of
Defense. Sagent Solution provides budget data via the Web.
08/13/2000 IBM captures top spot over Oracle in eWeek Lab Review; First
Server Database in five years to receive recognition.
08/11/2000 Decision Consultants and SAS team to provide software
solutions and services to customers.
08/10/2000 AMD released the x86-64™ Architecture Programmers Overview.
"Hammer" processors planned for end of 2001.Provides transition to
64-bit environments while supporting 32-bit applications.
08/09/2000 Cognos(R) announced an agreement with GE's Employers
Reinsurance Corporation. It includes providing OLAP and enterprise
reporting and visualization via the Cognos business intelligence portal.
08/09/2000 IBM announced its Knowledge and Content Management Services
practice will help clients manage organizational knowledge and create
communities of practice.
08/08/2000 A security hole has been identified in Netscape's Web
browser. Once a computer is infected, a hacker can see, run and delete
files on the target computer. The method is dubbed "Brown Orifice".
Netscape users should disable Java.
08/08/2000 Management changes at Computer Associates and Sagent
Technologies. COO Kumar new CEO at CA. Sagent names IBM Executive Ben C.
Barnes new President and CEO.
08/08/2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers and Comshare join forces to deliver
Management Planning and Control solutions to the Thai Market.
08/08/2000 Survey.com results show Oracle and Microsoft lead in European
Business Intelligence/Data Warehousing Market.
08/07/2000 Polo Ralph Lauren successfully deployed Informatica's
PowerCenter(TM) data-integration software for corporate-wide Business
Intelligence.
08/07/2000 More than 40 percent of end users are dissatisfied with their
data warehousing system, according to Giga Information Group's polling
surveys. Read more at http://www.cio.com/analyst/073100_giga.html.
08/04/2000 The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is considering
three competing proposals for creating a framework for instant messaging
interoperability. Check Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol working
group at ietf.org.
08/03/2000 NSF awarded $45 Million to Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center
for "terascale" computing capability for U.S. researchers. The proposed
six teraflop system will be an interconnected network of 682 Compaq
AlphaServers.
08/03/2000 According to International Data Corporation, Information
Builders had the highest percentage revenue growth for End User
Query/Reporting software. Its WebFOCUS product is a Business
Intelligence solution that delivers Web deployed reports and analysis.
08/02/2000 The Meyers Group received 1st Place in the MapObjects
Application Contest from ESRI; Award recognizes excellence in
application architecture. Meyers Residential Pro-GIS 2000 is a GIS-based
real estate research tool.
08/01/2000 Liberty Group of South Africa will deploy Gentia's Web-Based
Balanced Scorecard Software for Strategy Management.
07/31/2000 Informix announced its extended Parallel Server and Ardent
DataStage will provide Data Warehouse Infrastructure for Choice Hotels,
World's second-largest hotel franchiser.
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What's New? at DSSResources.COM
08/14/2000 Updated DSS Researchers Web Page Directory. (If you are not
listed, please contact us)
08/07/2000 Posted link and local PDF copy of Cox, B. F. "Spreadsheets:
Bigger And Better, Information Week, August 7, 2000 or see copy at
http://www.informationweek.com/ .
DSS News is copyrighted (c) 2000 by D. J. Power. Please send your email to
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