The Islamic University of Gaza
Faculty of Information Technology
Department of Inf. Tech. system
First Semester 2009-2010 / / الجامعة الإسلامية بغزة
كلية تكنولوجيا المعلومات
قسم نظم تكنولوجيا المعلومات
الفصل الأول 2010-2009

Course Syllabus

SICT 3302: Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Prerequisite / General background in computing. / Credit Hours / 3 Hrs / Semester / First, 2009/2010
Instructors / Mr. Basem O. Alijla / Office/phone / I303 / 2641 / Email /
Office hour / Class location / Class time

what is DSS

Decision Support Systems (DSS) represents a point of view on the role of the computer in the decision-making process. Decision support implies the use of computers to assist managers in their decision making processes; support rather, than replace managerial judgment; and improve effectiveness of decision making rather than just its efficiency.

A decision support system (DSS) is an (intelligent) information system that uses data, models it, processes or analyzes it using problem-specific methodologies, and assists the user in the decision-making process through a graphical user interface (GUI).

Course DESCRIPTION

This course provides an overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of decision support systems (DSS) and their use in supporting the decision making process in different organizations. The course consists of two main modules. The first module concentrates on the managerial aspects of decision-making, the role of automation in decision making, and decision models. The second module discusses the design and development of decision support systems, with an emphasis on data management.

TEXTBOOK

  1. Efraim Turban, Jay E. Aronson, Decision Support Systems and business Intelligent Systems, 8th edition, Prentice Hall, 2007.
  2. Seref, Ahuja, and. Winston, Developing Spreadsheet-Based Decision Support Systems Using Excel and VBA for Excel, Dynamic Ideas, 2007

COURSE FORMAT

This course will use lectures and labs lectures as the primary learning formats. The course time is divided between lectures and labs. Lectures and labs are offered in nested manner as shown above in course topic.

You will be expected to prepare a research paper and give a class presentation of a selected recent topic in the field of decision support systems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is intended to introduce students to the tools, techniques, and theory of DSS and how they can be used to improve the quality of management decisions; so following the completion of this course, students are expected to:

1)Be familiar with basic DSS concepts;

2)Distinguish among individual, group and organizational DSS and specialized DSS tools and techniques;

3)Understand the fundamentals of DSS design and development;

4)Be aware of current and future DSS implementation challenges;

5)Apply basic decision models and related automated tools to real life decision situations;

6)Provide students with hand-on instructions and exercises on the development of small-scale DSS applications using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic programming language, which is required by the course project.

COURSE PROJECT

Students will work in groups from 2-3 members to design and develop a decision support system of their own choosing.Group assignments will be made by the second week of classes

COURSE TOPICS

Serial / Topic / Sources
Decision support systems and Business Intelligence / A.1
Decision Making , Systems, Modeling, and Support / A.2
Excel Basic Functionality / B 2-6
Excel Extended Functionality / B 7 -10
Decision support systems concepts, methodologies, and technologies / A.3
Introduction to VBA / B 11 -12
Modeling and Analysis / A.4
Coding in VBA / B 12 -17
The essential of BI / A.s
Data warehousing / A.5
Creating a User Interface / B 18
System development and acquisition / A.15
The DSS Development Process / B 22
Project submissions

COURSE Grading

Attendance / paper&chapter
presentation / Group Project / Midterm / Final
Project proposal
DSS model / Final project report / Final project
presentation
5% / 10% / 5% / 10% / 10% / 20% / 40%

Academic Policy

Lecture Attendance:Students should arrive at the classroom punctually or before the class starts. If you arrive late, you will not only lose opportunity to participate in class, but also disturb others. Attendance is mandatory, In case your absence is more than 25% course will be dropped immediately.

Exam Attendance:If you miss an exam, you will receive a big zero grade. However, if there is an unavoidable conflict in advance, please communicate to the instructor.

Classroom behavior:Students should behave properly during class time so as to facilitate the teaching and learning. You should turn off all electronic devices (such as cell phones) that may affect the class. If you need to leave early, please let your instructor know beforehand. Talking to your classmates, reading newspapers, magazines, or other materials are not allowed during class time.

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