Decision+Support+Systems

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Decision Support Systems assist people in making decisions, here are some tools used in the decision making process:

**__Data Warehousing and Data Mining:__ **  __Data Warehousing__ A data warehouse is a database that includes copies of data from each of an organization’s operational database. Data warehouses are also used to analyze the activities of the organization. Typically a data warehouse will include financial, sales, marketing, staffing and customer data gathering over an extended period of time. The data is uploaded regularly. Hence data warehouses have the added benefit of providing a backup and archival role. Usually data warehouses are read-only and the DBMS software used to access data warehouses never needs to monitor who is accessing records as they are never changed. Typically a data warehouse is much larger than a total size of operational database – often 300 or 400 times the size.

__Data Mining__ The aim of data mining is to discover new knowledge through the exploration of data. Data Mining is a form of detailed data analysis used on large databases - usually data warehouses. Data mining is performed by software that uses various different strategies in an attempt to uncover patterns that are non-obvious within the data. The uncovered patterns are usually predictive, that is they predict some future behavior based on past trends.

__**OLTP & OLAP:**__  __Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) __ is a computer system, which manages transaction-oriented applications and related data that is processed immediately. OLTP requires current updating, fast data entry and retrieval transactions. Applications include electronic banking and an automatic teller machine (ATM).

__Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)__ involves relatively low amounts of transactions. In OLAP databases there is historical data stored in a multidimensional schema to be analyzed. OLAP applications are widely used in data mining.

The document below shows major differences between OLTP and OLAP system design: Click on this to hear the information about OLTP and OLAP being read out:

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__**Group Decision Support Systems and the Communication it Facilitates:**__ Group decisions support systems (GDSS) are information systems that facilitate decision-making activities between multiple participants. They provide computer-based tools to assist participants to contribute to the decision making process. GDSS are commonly used during business meetings to improve the ability of the meeting and participants to reach consensus and make informed decisions. GDSS can operate over the internet a LAN and/or within a meeting room. GDSS uses many of the tools present in most teleconferences or video conference together with tools specifically designed to assist the decision making process. The technology aims to allow everyone to contribute whilst maintaining a meeting structure that promotes efficient decision-making Typical GDSS features that specifically assist decision-making include: § Voting and ranking systems that automatically collect and tally votes from all participants § Ability for all participants to contribute – often anonymous contribution is possible § Comments shared with all other participants, commonly using an electronic white board features § Flexibility to incorporate external information as required

For more information on Group Decision Support Systems, click on the document below or visit the Related Links page on this wiki.

**__GIS:__** GIS stands for geographical information system. GIS is a system that allows us to understand geographic data. The applications of the GIS are GIS technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, asset management, archaeology, environmental impact assessment, urban planning, cartography, criminology, geographic history, marketing, logistics, prospectively mapping, and other purposes. For example, a GIS can be used by emergency planners to calculate emergency response times if there was to be a natural disaster. GIS’ are also used in investigating which wetlands have the most pollution.

- Vector data can be displayed as vector graphics used on traditional maps - Vector data can be easier to register, scale, and re-project, which can simplify combining vector layers from different sources.- Vector data is simpler to update and maintain, whereas a raster image will have to be completely reproduced. (Example: a new road is added). || - Raster data will appear as an image that may have a blocky appearance for object boundaries. (depending on the resolution of the raster file)- Raster data have larger file sizes (this depends on the resolution) ||
 * Advantages || Disadvantages ||
 * - Raster data sets record a value for all points in the area covered which may require more storage space than representing data in a vector format that can store data only where needed.

For more information about different aspects of GIS, please visit:  []