decision-support system

industrial engineering

Also known as: DSS, business intelligence application

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Decision support systems (DSS) are computer-based tools designed to help managers and analysts make better decisions. These systems analyze data, often from transaction processing or external sources, to support various organizational functions and business processes.12

There are two main types of DSS:
* Model-driven DSS: These apply preprogrammed models to specific data sets to explore "what-if" scenarios, such as determining the optimal selling price for a new product.1
* Data-driven DSS (Business Intelligence): These systems mine large volumes of historical data to discover patterns, trends, and correlations, using techniques like data mining and artificial intelligence to make predictions.1

Software tools like spreadsheets, databases, and graphics programs have made DSS more accessible and powerful, aiding industrial engineers and operations researchers in modeling and analysis. Group decision systems and geographic information systems are also varieties of DSS that facilitate collaborative decision-making and spatial data analysis.31

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

information system
Decision support systems and business intelligence
…decision making, however indirectly, but decision support systems are expressly designed for this purpose. As these systems are increasingly being developed to analyze massive collections of data (known as big data), they are becoming known as business intelligence, or business analytics, applications. The two principal varieties of decision support systems…
Read More
…decision making, however indirectly, but decision support systems are expressly designed for this purpose. As these systems are increasingly being developed to analyze massive collections of data (known as big data), they are becoming known as business intelligence, or business analytics, applications. The two principal varieties of decision support systems…
Read More

operations research
Decision analysis and support
…recently, decision support systems (DSS) have been developed to project and predict the results of decisions before they are made. These projections permit managers and analysts to evaluate the possible consequences of decisions and to try several alternatives on paper before committing valuable resources to actual programs.
Read More
…recently, decision support systems (DSS) have been developed to project and predict the results of decisions before they are made. These projections permit managers and analysts to evaluate the possible consequences of decisions and to try several alternatives on paper before committing valuable resources to actual programs.
Read More