Top Management Story

Writen by Kostis Panayotakis

The evolution path of a DSS system, varies according to the priorities of each Business.

Development and maturity stages of a DSS system, are the following:

• Initially, certain critical business processes are selected to be monitored vis-à-vis their performance
• a data quality mechanism is developed. In order to produce quality information, quality input data are needed.
• A data warehouse which can produce multidimensional views of the selected business processes, is implemented
• Standard business process performance reports, are developed
• Tools for the analysis of multidimensional data (OLAP tools) and the ad-hoc analysis of data, are used
• Predictive models on areas of interest are developed

If a Business aims at developing predictive capability to support the evaluation of future actions, it shall prioritize the development of such models, even without the implementation of a data warehouse, just by using files or data extracted from operational systems. All DSS functionality categories are developed and matured, as the Business evaluates the benefit derived of each investment:

• Processes to extract data from operational systems, mature and become more automated
• Additional business processes are selected to be monitored. The data warehouse is extended with facts on the additional business processes
• New ways to analyze and drill down on the enriched data
• New reports which combine data from different process areas (drill across mechanism) are developed
• Quality of predictive models (the ability to produce a sufficient level of prediction) is evaluated based on the business results. Models are improved based on the feedback received.
• Predictive capability on new business areas is developed

At the same time, a new culture on information quality and information driven decision making, is cultivated. The Business is gradually deriving more value from the DSS system, given that:

• quality of data stored in the data warehouse is gradually improving
• larger subject areas are supported by the DSS
• a higher number of Users is accessing and using the information which is produced
• information is gradually perceived as more reliable and a single version of truth is gradually achieved

Copyright 2006 – Kostis Panayotakis