PART 2

Methodology

Methodology in DSS is a systematic, theoretical analysis of the

methods applied to a field of study, or the theoretical analysis of the

body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge.

It, typically, encompasses concepts such as paradigm, theoretical

model, phases and quantitative or qualitative techniques.

SDLC Model

The systems development life cycle (SDLC), also referred to as the

application development life-cycle, is a term used in systems

engineering, information systems and software engineering to describe

a process for planning, creating, testing, and deploying an information

system. The systems development life-cycle concept applies to a range

of hardware and software configurations, as a system can be

composed of hardware only, software only, or a combination of both.

User Interference

The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine

interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and

machines occurs. The goal of this interaction is effective operation and

control of the machine on the user's end, and feedback from the

machine, which aids the operator in making operational decisions.

Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the

interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy

machinery operator controls, and process controls. The design

considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to

or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology.

A user interface is the system by which people (users) interact with a

machine. The user interface includes hardware (physical) and software

(logical) components. User interfaces exist for various systems, and

provide a means of:

Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system

Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users'

manipulation

Flowchart

A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or

process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order

by connecting them with arrows. This diagrammatic representation

illustrates a solution to a given problem. Process operations are

represented in these boxes, and arrows; rather, they are implied by

the sequencing of operations. Flowcharts are used in analyzing,

designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various

fields.

Data Flow Diagram

A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the "flow" of

data through an information system, modeling its process aspects.

Often they are a preliminary step used to create an overview of the

system which can later be elaborated. DFDs can also be used for the

visualization of data processing (structured design).

A DFD shows what kinds of information will be input to and output from

the system, where the data will come from and go to, and where the

data will be stored. It does not show information about the timing of

processes, or information about whether processes will operate in

sequence or in parallel (which is shown on a flowchart).

Program Code

Machine code or machine language is a set of instructions executed

directly by a computer's central processing unit (CPU). Each instruction

performs a very specific task, such as a load, a jump, or an ALU

operation on a unit of data in a CPU register or memory. Every

program directly executed by a CPU is made up of a series of such

instructions

Numerical machine code (i.e. not assembly code) may be regarded as

the lowest-level representation of a compiled and/or assembled

computer program or as a primitive and hardware-dependent

programming language. While it is possible to write programs directly

in numerical machine code, it is tedious and error prone to manage

individual bits and calculate numerical addresses and constants

manually. It is therefore rarely done today, except for situations that

require extreme optimization or debugging.

PART 3

Summary

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a specific class of computerized

information system that supports business and organizational decision-

making activities. A properly designed Decision Support System is an

interactive software-based system intended to help decision makers

compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal

knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and

make decisions.