Decision Support Systems

Multiobjective linear programming: another DSS

by Peretz Shoval

Authors: M. Dror, P. Shoval, A. Yelin
Journal: Decision Support Systems (1991) , Vol. 7, 221-232.

The paper presents an interactive menu driven decision support system for Multiobjective Linear Programming (MOLP)... more The paper presents an interactive menu driven decision support system for Multiobjective Linear Programming (MOLP) problems. The main contribution of the system lies in the ease of interaction between the decision maker (DM) and the system which is achieved, in contrast with other systems, by DM directed construction of a weak order on system variables and objectives. In the interactive stage the DM points out which objective functions are to be improved relative to the candidate solutions presented. No tradeoff evaluations are required from the DM. In addition, priorities/preferences of variables and objectives can be modified throughout the solution process.

A Cloud-based Virtual Observatory for Environmental Science

by Yehia El-khatib

A decision support system for the classification of software coding faults: a research abstract

by Billy Kidwell

A decision support system for fault classification is presented. The fault classification scheme is developed to... more A decision support system for fault classification is presented. The fault classification scheme is developed to provide guidance in process improvement and fault-based testing. The research integrates results in fault classification, source code analysis, and fault-based testing research. Initial results indicate that existing change type and fault classification schemes are insufficient for this purpose. Development of sufficient schemes and their evaluation are discussed.

A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in a New Zealand Dairy Company

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J. (1983). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in a New Zealand Dairy Company. Presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Operational Research Society, Warwick University.

The context for the need to construct an interactive model of a large New Zealand dairy company is described. The... more The context for the need to construct an interactive model of a large New Zealand dairy company is described. The practical aspects of developing the hardware and software necessary for the decision support task are discussed followed by application examples. Comments are made regarding the combination of human judgement skills and mathematical models. Finally, some future developments of the NETPLAN system are outlined.

See also:
Mellalieu, P. J. (1982). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics, statistics and operations research). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10063/568


Mellalieu, P. J., & Hall, K. R. (1983). An Interactive Planning Model for the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 34, 521–532. doi:10.1057/jors.1983.119

Kearney, T. D., Hall, K. R., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1984). Recent Advances in Network Optimization Methods and Applications. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Presented at the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1569500/Recent_Advances_in_Network_Optimization_Methods_and_Applications

An evidence-based predictive model for motivating engagement, completion, and success in freshmen engineering students

by Peter Mellalieu

Fernando, D. A. K., & Mellalieu, P. J. (2011). An evidence-based predictive model for motivating engagement, completion, and success in freshmen engineering students [Paper #151]. Developing Engineers for Social Justice: Community Involvement, Ethics & Sustainability (pp. 312–318). Presented at the 22nd Annual Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (AAEE 2011), Perth: Australasian Association for Engineering Education. Retrieved from http://www.aaee.com.au/conferences/2011/papers/index.html#F

In general, teachers deploy several methods to encourage their students to engage early with their learning during... more In general, teachers deploy several methods to encourage their students to engage early with their learning during their course of study. These methods include: presentation of previous years’ pass/fail rates; feedback from previous students; and anecdotal evidence suggesting that active engagement, punctuality in attending lectures, and good performance in interim assessments will contribute to success. However, we suspect that engineering students will be more inclined to improve positively their behaviour if they are provided with ’engineering-like’ evidence that their behavioural change can lead to success and improved course grades. Furthermore, we suspect that students will embrace a conceptual and logical tool that allows them to take control of the course outcome they seek.

A tool based on these principles has already been accepted and used enthusiastically by some students in another department at Unitec Institute of Technology (Mellalieu, 2011).  Inspired by the success of this approach, we have conducted a data mining analysis of previous students’ class attendance and assessment performance records to develop a similar tool for a freshman course within an undergraduate engineering technology programme at the same institution. The model underpinning the tool demonstrates empirically that better attendance in lectures and higher performance in interim summative assessments leads to higher final examination results. Furthermore, the tool enables the lecturer to achieve early detection of ‘at risk’ and struggling students who may not achieve successful course completion without a significant intervention by the teacher, and/or change in behaviour by the student. At Unitec, a conscious effort is made to attract to engineering education students from communities whose representation hitherto has been low. Identifying and following up those who may be experiencing difficulties is crucial for their retention.

All New Zealand tertiary institutes are now increasing their focus on successful completions (output) rather than the number of enrolments (input); the tool described is one useful approach to providing necessary and timely additional support to students at risk of failing to complete.

See also related:
Mellalieu, P. J. (2011). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from students’ early course performance: progress results from a data-mining-based decision support system in a first year tertiary education programme. XXIX International Conference of the International Council for Higher Education (Vol. 24). Presented at the Innovation and Development in Higher Education, Miami/Ft Lauderdale: International Council for Higher Education. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2011/6/30_MELLALIEU_2011_Predicting_success_ICIE_abstract_proposal.html

Predicting success, excellence, and retention from students' early course performance: progress results from a data-mining-based decision support system in a first year tertiary education programme

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from students’ early course performance: progress results from a data-mining-based decision support system in a first year tertiary education programme. XXIX International Conference of the International Council for Higher Education (Vol. 24). Presented at the Innovation and Development in Higher Education, Miami/Ft Lauderdale: International Council for Higher Education. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2011/6/30_MELLALIEU_2011_Predicting_success_ICIE_abstract_proposal.html

Higher educational institutions are focussing increased attention on identifying which students are likely to succeed... more Higher educational institutions are focussing increased attention on identifying which students are likely to succeed - or fail - in their tertiary studies. Culver (2010, 2011), for instance, reports on the business case for, and services provided by the Noel-Levitz consultancy for improving institutional retention in North America. In New Zealand, government funding for higher education is increasingly being redirected towards a focus on outputs (such as course completions) rather than inputs (student enrollments) (Ministry of Education, 2010).


Anticipating this context, I constructed a prototype Decision Support System (ReXS) to provide my students the means to predict their personal academic success and final grade as they progressed through a first-year (freshman) course ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship’. Data mining of previous semesters’ course results identified the crucial importance of a student's ability to write formal academic English as demonstrated in a written case study assignment. Several students’ immediate reaction to a presentation introducing them to ReXS was unexpectedly enthusiastic and they became ‘early adopter’ users. ‘Late adopter’ users of ReXS also gained confidence in identifying the degree of effort they needed to apply to complete the course succesfully through their Final Test.


Whilst ReXS is a bespoke solution tailored to the particular assessment regime of a particular course, I believe the principles of its design and construction can be applied to any assessed course in higher education. Certainly, my students indicated they would welcome widespread adoption of the approach in other courses in their study program. The presentation provides an opportunity to discuss: Reactions from the student users of ReXS; Illustrations of the predictions made by the ReXS; How the principles underlying the Decision Support System can be extended to other courses; Opportunities for improving the utility of ReXS for students, academic, and administrative staff.

Development of a large transhipment and production model for the dairy industry

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hall, K. R. (1981). Development of a large transhipment and production model for the dairy industry. Proceedings of the Operations Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ), 51–61.

Related publications:
Mellalieu, P. J. (1982). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics, statistics and operations research). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10063/568

Mellalieu, P. J., & Houlistan, M. (1982). Towards decision support systems in New Zealand. Proceedings of the Operations Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ), 99–106. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1571355/Towards_decision_support_systems_in_New_Zealand

Kearney, T. D., Hall, K. R., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1984). Recent Advances in Network Optimization Methods and Applications. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Presented at the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1569500/Recent_Advances_in_Network_Optimization_Methods_and_Applications

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hall, K. R. (1983). An Interactive Planning Model for the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 34, 521–532. doi:10.1057/jors.1983.119

Sankaran, J. K., & Luxton, P. (2003). Logistics in relation to strategy in dairying: The case of New Zealand dairy. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 23(5), 522–545. doi:10.1108/01443570310471848

A long-range planning model for a large New Zealand dairy company is described. Aspects of the model’s systems design... more A long-range planning model for a large New Zealand dairy company is described. Aspects of the model’s systems design are discussed in relation to the development of an interactive user-oriented system. The system, known as NETPLAN is based on a network flow formulation that maximizes net variable revenues.

Towards decision support systems in New Zealand

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J., & Houlistan, M. (1982). Towards decision support systems in New Zealand. Proceedings of the Operations Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ), 99–106. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1571355/Towards_decision_support_systems_in_New_Zealand

Related papers:
Mellalieu, P. J. (1982). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics, statistics and operations research). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10063/568

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hall, K. R. (1983). An Interactive Planning Model for the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 34, 521–532. doi:10.1057/jors.1983.119

Kearney, T. D., Hall, K. R., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1984). Recent Advances in Network Optimization Methods and Applications. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Presented at the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Operational Research Society. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1569500/Recent_Advances_in_Network_Optimization_Methods_and_Applications

The trend of operations research/management science activity towards the construction of models that will be used... more The trend of operations research/management science activity towards the construction of models that will be used recurrently for decision making leads naturally towards the concept of Decision Support Systems (DSS). Factors influencing this trend are identified, and the movement towards DSS construction in New Zealand is reviewed through examination of several successful NZ applications.

To meet the demand for more formal approaches to strategic planning the idea of a Decision Support Group is introduced. A brief examination beyond DSS is made in which it is suggested that more automated methods for implementing management decisions will complete the ‘management control’ cycle.

Some new directions in systems modelling practice.

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J. (1985). Some New Directions in Systems Modeling Practice. New Zealand Journal of Technology, 1(4), 223–238.

See also:
Mellalieu, P. J., & Turner, K. D. (1985). Expert Systems for Agricultural Production [crop damage in agricultural crops]. Proceedings of the Operational Research Society of New Zealand. Retrieved from http://unitec.academia.edu/PeterMellalieu/Papers/1518830/Expert_systems_for_agricultural_production_crop_damage_in_agricultural_crops_

Systems modeling has an accepted role in improving decision-making within industrial organisations. The effectiveness... more Systems modeling has an accepted role in improving decision-making within industrial organisations. The effectiveness of systems modeling is being improved through deepening of existing theoretical knowledge; transferring expertise to new application areas; and acquiring and applying new concepts. This paper focuses primarily on the last approach, dealing particularly with the potential offered by ‘expert systems’ and ‘electronic text book’ technologies. An introduction to these technologies is given with specific case study detail.

Epiphenomenal intelligence from partial models in safety management

by Marco Lazzari

Marco Lazzari, "Epiphenomenal Intelligence from Partial Models in Safety Management", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, UK, 2005

This paper represents an ex post rethinking of the contribution of artificial intelligence techniques to safety... more This paper represents an ex post rethinking of the contribution of artificial intelligence techniques to safety management, based on a long work experience in applying artificial intelligence to several engineering fields, from dam safety to environmental protection, from seismic monitoring to the protection of cultural heritage. The main issue is that developing models for assessing safety is a hard task, but integrating partial models may provide good results. Even if each single model is poor, a sort of epiphenomenal intelligence emerges from the behaviour of a system made of small partial models and users perceive it as a reliable assistant.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, safety management, epiphenomenal intelligence, monitoring, ethnography, anthropology, expert systems, decision support sustems, sicurezza strutturale, sistemi di supporto alle decisioni, sistemi eperti, intelligenza artificiale, dighe, frane

Settlement on the Electronic Frontier: The Management of Argumentation with Group Decision Support Systems

by Mark Aakhus

'Neutrality','choice', and'ownership'in the construction, use, and adaptation of judicial decision support systems

by Cyrus Tata

Ontology-based Multi-Agent System to support business users and management

by Dejan Lavbič

Published in Technological and economic development of economy (TEDE) journal and co-authored with Olegas Vasilecas and Rok Rupnik.

For some decision processes a significant added value is achieved when enterprises’ internal Data Warehouse (DW) can... more For some decision processes a significant added value is achieved when enterprises’ internal Data Warehouse (DW) can be integrated and combined with external data gained from web sites of competitors and other relevant Web sources. In this paper we discuss the agent-based integration approach using ontologies (DSS-MAS). In this approach data from internal DW and external sources are scanned by coordinated group of agents, while semantically integrated and relevant data is reported to business users according to business rules. After data from internal DW, Web sources and business rules are acquired, agents using these data and rules can infer new knowledge and therefore facilitate decision making process. Knowledge represented in enterprises’ ontologies is acquired from business users without extensive technical knowledge using user friendly user interface based on constraints and predefined templates. The approach presented in the paper was verified using the case study from the domain of mobile communications with the emphasis on supply and demand of mobile phones.

Novel linear programming approach for building a piecewise nonlinear binary classifier with a priori accuracy

by Orestes Manzanilla Salazar

* Co-authored with Ubaldo Manuel García Palomares.
* Published in "Decision Support Systems", on feb-2012

This paper describes a novel approach to build a piecewise (non)linear surface that separates individuals from two... more This paper describes a novel approach to build a piecewise (non)linear surface that separates individuals from two classes with an a priori classification accuracy. In particular, total classification with a good generalization level can be obtained, provided no individual belongs to both classes. The method is iterative: at each iteration a new piece of the surface is found via the solution of a Linear Programming model. Theoretically, the larger the number of iterations, the better the classification accuracy in the training set; numerically, we also found that the generalization ability does not deteriorate on the cases tested. Nonetheless, we have included a procedure that computes a lower bound to the number of errors that will be generated in any given validation set. If needed, an early stopping criterion is provided. We also showed that each piece of the discriminating surface is equivalent to a neuron of a feed forward neural network (FFNN); so as a byproduct we are providing a novel training scheme for FFNNs that avoids the minimization of non convex functions which, in general, present many local minima.

We compare this algorithm with a new linear SVM that needs no pre tuning and has an excellent performance on standard and synthetic data. Highly encouraging numerical results are reported on synthetic examples, on the Japanese Bank dataset, and on medium and small datasets from the Irvine repository of machine learning databases.rly stopping criteria is provided. We also showed that each piece of the discriminating surface is equivalent to a neuron of a feed
forward neural network (FFNN); so as a byproduct we are providing a novel training scheme for FFNNs that avoids the minimization of flat non convex functions which, in general, present many local minima. High encouraging numerical results are reported on a synthetic example, on the Japanese Bank
dataset, and on medium and small datasets from the Irvine repository of machine learning databases.

Automated Decision Support Onboard Modern Aircraft: A Cognitive Engineering Approach

by Giuseppe Napo Montano

Co-authored with John McDermid and Paul Cairns, accepted in 'Journal of Cognitive Engineering', 2012 - to appear)

Decision Support Information System for Water Source Evaluation and Management in Narava Basin

by asish Bhaskar

V. Valli Kumari, ABV.Satyanarayana, DVS.Chakradhar and RAS.Kumar, “Decision Support Information System for WaterSource Evaluation and Management in Narava Basin” at IEEE INDICON-2011.

To be published in IEEE explore

In the recent years due to over exploitation and over
dependence on ground water resources in agricultural sector... more In the recent years due to over exploitation and over
dependence on ground water resources in agricultural sector an
unprecedented drought conditions in the state has occurred. At
this critical juncture, effective evaluation and management
strategies to utilize the ever-depleting water resources in an
optimum way with the help of a decision support information
system for water resource evaluation and management would be
a fitting answer. This paper discusses the main functionalities
performed by the Decision Support Information System (DSIS)
designed and developed by us. They are analysis of data,
information processing to enable decision making on issues like
cropping pattern, availability of water resources in time and
space, domestic use of water in Narava Basin, Visakhapatnam.

Intelligent Simulation of Coastal Ecosystems

by António Pereira

PhD thesis (Informatics Engineering) presented to Faculty of Engineering - University of Porto.

The simulation of physical, chemical and biological processes in coastal ecosystems is used as a way to understand the... more The simulation of physical, chemical and biological processes in coastal ecosystems is used as a way to understand the system internal dynamics and to predict its evolution over time, in order to promote behaviours environmentally friendly and to induce effective and efficient management of the ecosystem as a whole.
The complexity and diversity of those processes encompass wide areas of knowledge, involving many researchers and research teams for their mathematical modelling. Each research team adopts a given programming language to translate the model to a computer application, simulating the processes that they are specialists and are interested in, rarely thinking about
the possibility of its integration with other models developed by other research teams, that simulate complementary processes. These applications are normally self-contained and, when used in a management context, require a lot of extra work to export and import results from one application to another, in order to share the knowledge acquired and complement the simulation. Furthermore, they do not integrate any kind of human rationality embedded to help a decision making activity.
The work presented in this document explores the capacity for the realistic simulation of complex systems, working consistently, integrating results generated by processes simulated in distinct applications and placing the human reasoning in the middle of the decision making system. It presents a framework for modelling and simulating coastal ecosystems and an associated methodology for creating an Environmental Decision Support Systems (EDSS). Both
are based on object oriented programming (OOP) and, in the case of the EDSS, on Autonomous Intelligent Agents. The modelling software simulator (EcoDynamo) is written in C++ and
includes several object dynamic link libraries (DLLs) for the simulation of the different physical and biogeochemical processes. These libraries were designed to be linked with different model shells, possibly written in different programming languages, for the sake of portability and reusability. A high level communication language (ECOLANG) was developed to allow the communications between EcoDynamo and the agents and applications that belong to the system. ECOLANG was designed to describe ecological systems in terms of regional
characteristics, living agent’s perceptions and actions and is independent from any hardware or software platform. The framework (Ecological Simulation Network – EcoSimNet) was
developed to easily integrate and bring together the several pieces of the system – the simulator is the core of the framework and all the agents/applications communicate with it;
the agents have, also, the ability to communicate with each other and can define several scenarios for the simulation in order to optimize their own objectives. To improve the speed of
the simulation process, the infrastructure provides mechanisms to integrate several simulators, enabling the parallel simulation of different configuration scenarios to increase the simulation speed. The EDSS uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology (AHP) to integrate multiple qualitative and quantitative conflicting criteria. The user gives a structure with a pairwise comparison between criteria based on its importance, and a priority ranking of the pre-processed scenarios is achieved. To validate the portability of the DLLs, some objects
were integrated in the COHERENS simulator (written in Fortran), and some processes simulated by COHERENS were invoked by the EcoDynamo simulator.
To validate the EcoSimNet framework, the simulation system was used both to simulate the Sungo Bay model (People’s Republic of China) and Ria Formosa (Algarve, Portugal). The
simulation system was used to simulate several distinct ecosystem configurations in order to demonstrate its flexibility. The framework was also used to optimize different scenarios with bivalve farming areas, and the EDSS was used with different management scenarios in the Ria Formosa lagoon (Portugal). The experiments performed indicate that these tools may be widely used by people involved in the management of coastal areas to integrate environmental, economic and social issues in the decision process, without an in-depth knowledge of modelling methodologies.

Argumentation Support: From technologies to tools

by Mark Aakhus

Moor, A. de, & Aakhus, M. (2006). Argumentation Support: From technologies to tools. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 93-98.

A plethora of technologies exist that are not necessarily tools. For technologies to become a tool, we contend,... more A plethora of technologies exist that are not necessarily tools. For technologies to become a tool, we contend, argumentation routines and design must coevolve. Argumentation is a crucial communicative activity in society. Many technologies exist that support argumentation, such as mailing lists, group decision-support systems, co- authoring, and negotiation support systems. However, many of these technologies do not work very well in practice; they often support discussions that do not sufficiently contribute to the purposes of their users. An important question therefore is: How to select or design information technologies that better support the argumentative practices of their community of use? In other words, how do technologies that support argumentation become real argumentation tools?

Technocratic and design stances toward communication expertise: How GDSS facilitators understand their work

by Mark Aakhus

Aakhus, M. (2001). Technocratic and design stances toward communication expertise: How GDSS facilitators understand their work. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 29(4), 341-371.

This study investigates the shared, and often unstated, premises that frame the expert communication servicing of... more This study investigates the shared, and often unstated, premises that frame the expert communication servicing of meeting facilitators who implement group decision support systems (GDSS). Nine premises about facilitating communication were reconstructed from the way practitioners use the concept "process" to describe the expert servicing they perform. The premises reveal how the facilitators treat an analytic distinction between process and content to be a natural fact about communication. This factual presumption entails a nascent philosophy of practice--"process management"--that facilitators use to persuade clients, and practitioners, about the trustworthiness and credibility of their servicing. The ironic consequence of this philosophy is the denial of the very influence and expert judgment they exercise in their professional action. This is not only problematic for individual practitioners and consumers of facilitation services but for the development of facilitation practice itself. The implications of this analysis for facilitation practice and applied communication research are discussed in terms of a "design stance" toward communication expertise which is an alternative to the "technocratic stance" that currently frames practitioner, consumer, and research interests in GDSS facilitators.

Argumentation support: from technologies to tools

by Mark Aakhus

Moor, A. D., & Aakhus, M. (2003). Argumentation support: from technologies to tools. In H. Weigand, G. Goldkuhl, & A. de Moor (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8th International Working Conference on the Language-Action Perspective on Communication Modelling (Vol. 49, pp. 93-98). Tilburg, The Netherlands: Working Conference on the Language Action Perspective.

A revised and updated version was published as:

Moor, A. de, & Aakhus, M. (2006). Argumentation Support: From technologies to tools. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 93-98.

Electronic argumentation support is increasingly important in today’s networked society. Virtual research... more Electronic argumentation support is increasingly important in today’s networked society. Virtual research collaboration, e-business, and many other domains of professional life critically depend on adequate support of tools for productive argumentative interactions. However, a plethora of technologies exist that are not necessarily tools. A technology only is a tool if it serves the purposes of the community in which it is used. In this paper, we outline an approach to diagnose to what extent a particular argumentation technology is a tool. We do this by combining a socio- technical view on technologies with a pragma-dialectical approach to argumentation analysis. We argue that for technologies to become a tool, argumentation routines and design need to co-evolve. We illustrate our approach by applying it to a case on group report authoring.