2.2. Tools for Analysis of Small Island
2.2.1. Decision Support System
Turban 1995 stated that decision support system is an interactive, flexible and adaptable computer based information system, especially developed
for supporting the solutions of a non-structured management problem for improved decision making.
A Decision Support System allows decision-makers to combine personal judgment with computer output, in a user-machine interface, to produce
meaningful information for support in a decision-making process. Such systems are capable of assisting in solution of all problems structured, semi-structured
and unstructured using all information available on request. They use quantitative models and database elements for problem solving and an integral part of the
decision-maker’s approach to problem identification and solution Simonovic, 1998.
According to Sol in Terfai and Schrimpf 2004, decision support is the development of approaches for applying information systems technology to
increase the effectiveness of decision makers in situations where the computer can support and enhance human judgment in the performance of tasks that have
elements, which cannot be specified in advance. Actually, there are many definitions of a DSS there is general agreement
that these systems focus on decisions and on supporting rather than replacing the users decision-making process. There is also a general consensus in the
definitions of DSS that both database and model components are usually required to fully support decisions. Many of todays DSS focus on problem solving rather
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than on supporting the modeling process, but the main goal of a DSS should be to provide decision makers with tools for interactively exploring, designing and
analyzing decision situations. Users should be able to perform the following functions: they can analyze decision situations according to their personal styles
and knowledge; they can build and compare various quantitative models; they can adapt these models to changing conditions; and they can evaluate different aspects
of their activities using a variety of different means Terfai and Schrimpf, 2004. Other computer-
based systems
Data management
Model management
Knowledge manager
Dialog management
Manager user Data, external
and internal
Figure 3. Conceptual model of DSS Turban, 1995 DSS is composed of the following subsystem Turban, 1995:
a. Data management. The data management includes the database which contains relevant data for the situation and is managed by software called
database management system DBMS
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b. Model management. A software package that includes financial, statistical, management science or other quantitative models that provide the system’s
analytical capabilities and an appropriate software management c. Communication dialog system. It provides the user interface.
d. Knowledge management. This optional subsystem can support any of the other subsystem or act as an independent component.
Within the framework of management information systems Mittra in Simonovic, 1998 the DSS has four primary characteristics:
• It helps decision-makers at the upper levels; • It is flexible and responds quickly to questions;
• It provides “what if” scenarios; and
•
It considers the specific requirements of the decision-makers. In the period since DSS came to prominence there has been considerable
growth in the importance of geographic information systems GIS. This growth in GIS reflects the decreased cost of the required technology and the increasing
availability of appropriate spatial data. Recent improvements in mainstream computer technologies facilitate this spread of the use of spatial data. These
include inexpensive gigabyte sized hard disks, large high-resolution color monitors, graphics accelerators and CD-ROM storage. This explosion in the use
of computer technology can also be seen in other areas, where a virtuous circle of declining hardware costs leads to larger software sales and therefore reduced
software costs.
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2.2.2. Geographic Information System
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