A Decision Support System
is an information and planning
system that has the ability to interrogate computers randomly,
analyze the information and predict the impact of decisions before they are made.
A DSS is a cohesive and integrated set of programs that
share data and information such as spreadsheets and modeling programs provide both analysis and "what
if?" planning. DBMSs (Data Base Management Systems) let you select data and derive information for reporting and analysis.
However, any single application that supports decision
making is not a DSS. A DSS might also retrieve industry data from
external sources that can be compared and used for historical and statistical
purposes.
An integrated DSS directly impacts management's decision-making process and can
be a very cost- beneficial computer application
Decision Support systems increasingly use
OLAP databases, which provide rapid access to multidimensional views of the
data. A user can quickly flip from "by product" to "by
region" with a multidimensional database.
Executive Information Systems are information systems that consolidate and summarize ongoing transactions within the organization. They provide top management with all the information it requires at all times from internal as well as external sources. If the EIS provides "what if?" capabilities like that of a DSS, they are seen as being the same.
Management Information Systems
are an information
system that integrates data from all the departments it serves, and provides
operations and management with the information they require to run the business.