Decision Support Systems in Information Technology Assimilation

The potential suite of decision support system (DSS) applications deployed by organizations is dynamic and change with advances in computer technology. An understanding of DSS applications is important in planning organization strategy or creating a roadmap that encompasses these changes. This research effort examines the definition of DSS, the assimilation of information technology in organizations, and the assimilation dynamics of DSS. As DSS tools are assimilated into applications of an organization, they often enter the organization as ad hoc DSS applications at the strategic planning level. The technology transfer continues until these tools are embedded in large-scale applications that exhibit the characteristics of structured decision support (SDS) or transaction processing systems (TPS). Therefore managers and researched should view them as a SDS/TPS and not a DSS. Recognition of an assimilation roadmap assists in this technology transfer and recognizes this is okay – it is an acceptable means of making this transfer.