Many managers and business leaders might be thinking about setting up training programs, software systems and resources for getting Decision Support Systems into the mix at their companies. DSS is all about wedding the natural intelligence of humans to new technology that assists in pin-pointing quantities, projecting for the future, and generally helping out with decision making.

With many industry leaders offering decision support software, tools and training online, busy department heads or business owners or operators can find easy solutions for training staff to use decision support systems software and tools, to interact and to promote the synergy of computerized systems with human decision-making. Those looking to boost their shops with DSS can find:

1. DSS on-site training from companies savvy about promoting this new technology.

2. Online or remote training solutions for decision support system applications and tools.

3. Specialized DSS training for the tools and software that allow easy DSS integration.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find on-site DSS training

Why not bring professionals on site for a full-scale conference training on DSS systems? On-site training allows staff to really get involved in figuring out how various decision support system tools work and how to make them an efficient addition to a project or development team.

I recommend: Dr. Dan Powers DSSResources.com will bring qualified instruction on-site for three day or other term classes -- check out specific costs, times, and training included on the website. For more in bringing training on-site, see how the Business Intelligence Application Development course from Hands On Technology Transfer can bring decision support technology and a host of other tools into your jurisdiction. Expert Choice brings more training to the table with its four levels of instruction, from "black belt" to "gold belt," for customizing your staff's training.

Look for remote tools for DSS

Another option is to check out online sites offering web-based or remote solutions for DSS training. Lots of businesses can rely on these kinds of resources to train staff without a lot of scheduling and time management around the training process.

I recommend: For online web training tools and more on DSS, try the Computer Information Center online. Try ITT for more in remote solutions for getting decision support tools integrated with staff in a busy environment.

Find alternative DSS decision-making training

Other training agencies use DSS as just part of a larger picture, or specialize in aspects of DSS that may be valuable to your business. Identify the solutions you want by looking at what's available from the detailed online catalogs of DSS inclusive consultants, trainers and instructors.

I recommend: Either hosted or on-site training from Decision Support Services provides specific training in aspects of technology tools for getting decision support solutions and concepts worked into business plans. For a different kind of decision training tool, consider workshop in decision making and more from Head Scratchers, a training company with an online catalog that might be useful for specialized small business DSS or goal-orientation needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at DSS training, be sure to think about how much your staff members will be able to handle. Ordering up massive training programs when hours are already stretched thin is an excellent example of wasted resources, so tread lightly until you know that training solutions are in order.

In today’s world, a small business without good decision-makers is like a computer with dialup Internet access: lagging behind the competition and soon to be obsolete. Think good decision-making skills cannot be taught? Think again! Here are the three steps to making great decisions:

1. Consider choices to determine whether they fit your short- and long-term business goals.
2. Identify emerging issues and develop anticipatory decision-making skills.
3. Utilize one of several standardized methods to recognize the right choice for your situation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at the big picture

Decision-making often goes wrong because it has only a short-term focus. It takes strategic planning to reach the long-term goals in your business plan, and nearly every decision you make along the way, good or bad, will affect your ability to achieve those goals.

I recommend: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a free online course, 'Introduction to Strategic Planning,' to assist you in determining your short- and long-term goals. This course offers worksheets and additional tools to guide you through the painless process.

Anticipate and you'll do great

Become an anticipatory decision maker. No one can foresee every twist ahead, but by examining potential areas of improvement in your small business, you'll have time to consider your options before a real need arises.

I recommend: The educational site Horizon offers 'Anticipatory Management: Tools for Better Decision Making' with advice and tools to help you think ahead.

Write it down

Get to know some easy-to-use decision-making outlines, including the Pareto Analysis, to help you prioritize your decisions, the Decision Trees, a 'pros and cons' list, and the Six Thinking Hats, to show you a range of perspectives.

I recommend: Mind Tools explains various decision-making techniques and lets you print the worksheets for free.

Use cost benefit analysis (CBA)

A cost-benefit analysis contrasts the actual costs to the long-term financial benefits of a specific decision.

I recommend: Check out Mind Tools to discover the financial effects of your possible decisions. The bonus? They give you the low-down without a bunch of 50-cent words.

(Almost) automated answers

Computers do everything in today's world – and yes, that includes helping you make business decisions.

I recommend: Microsoft offers automated tools designed to improve the quality and speed of decision-making. Check out the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services and the Microsoft Office Excel Add-in for SQL Server Analysis Services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be rational, not rash: Rational decisions are good. Rash? Not so good.
• •  Be wary of groupthink: Studies have shown that in a group atmosphere, people are less likely to voice individual thoughts and more likely to follow the other group members' ideas.
• •  Gather the information: Be sure to collect all necessary information to allow you to make the wisest decision.
• •  Get feedback: Bounce your ideas off a trusted colleague for his/her feedback.
• •  Don't get stuck with the leftovers: If you're slow to decide, some of your options might become unavailable, leaving you with the less-appealing alternatives.
• •  Don't play the blame game: We all hate making mistakes, but the real mistake would be rationalizing, making excuses, or blaming someone else.
• •  Learn from your experience: Take notes about your decision-making process and results, and learn from your successes and mistakes.

Decision support systems are now a major part of focused goals planning in many industries. A DSS system generally includes computerized tools that "interact" with top level management to help chart a course for a business. DSS takes in "raw data" and uses algorithm processing and other technological methods to "parse" that data into projections for best possible decision making. How much does the human staff rely on decision support systems? That's up to each business to figure out.

If you want to get knowledgeable on the various types of DSS and the terminology that represents how decision support systems help out businesses, use the power of the web to get informed and start looking for your own DSS solutions. See how companies use decision support software and tools:

1. To process a business inventory and catalog the resources on site for continual management, where decision support systems help crunch the numbers on what's in house.

2. To develop sales projections or other reports on a periodic basis.

3. To assist in creating detailed business plans for presentation and daily use.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about different types of 'driven' DSS

In the general realm of decision support systems, there are variable options: model driven DSS focus on simulation and a birds eye view, where communication driven DSS relies on group operations and principles. Other types of business decision support system models have their own specific focus: find out more with easy website breakdowns on decision support system applications and tools.

I recommend: DSS Resources gives readers key terms and conceptual info on model driven decision support systems as well as links and case study examples. Find out more about model driven decision support tools, communication driven DSS, data driven CSS and all other variations at Tech-FAQ.

Learn about active and passive DSS

The difference between these types of DSS is on that sliding scale of how involved a business is in using DSS for the big turns in the road. Passive DSS stays in the background, where active DSS steps up: new technology focuses on making active DSS more accessible and 'user friendly' to give these tools a bigger role in new business.

I recommend: BambooWeb offers some insight into the differences between passive and active DSS. Get more on active and passive DSS for corporate decision support, including new product roll-outs, at MicroStrategy, where detailed web info helps managers understand how decision support technology can suit their goals.

Look for more on specific DSS business solutions

Because each independent business operation gets different values out of DSS tools and concepts, it's critical to look at how some of these are implemented for businesses across a scale. Use additional web links to find more on types of DSS in use every day in your field.

I recommend: At AllBusiness, you can find information sources for how businesses are getting DSS fitted into their planning systems. Find out more about Organizational Needs Assessment how DSS plays in at Decision Support Services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Never let DSS or other computerized tools replace the power of an involved, focused group of individuals who know the company from the ground up. Decision support systems software can be great for hashing out a lot of raw data, but without key guidance, your business can flounder, especially during times of fluctuation.

As one of a variety of new tools coming out of modern computing and data modeling, DSS is getting a lot of attention from many businesses as a way to promote better projections, management and analysis within a company or business. DSS comes in many forms, and the term basically refers to a computer-aided system that helps managers and planners make decisions. DSS combines the power of human thought with the power of modeling systems to get optimal, informed decision making.

That said, there are a lot of different ways managers can use decision support software to their advantage if they are open to exploring decision support systems (DSS) applications and uses. Typically, business planners will build a DSS system according to their needs and use it to evaluate specific operations, including:

1. A large stock of inventory, where decision support system applications can provide guidance on establishing supply chain movement that works for a business.

2. A sales process, where decision support systems software is a "crystal ball" that helps managers theorize how changes will affect results.

3. Other specialized processes related to a field or industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at decision support systems designed to manage inventory

DSS can come in handy by evaluating stock held in a facility, or any other type of business asset that can be moved around or otherwise optimized. This is often one way a business can profit from 'itemizing' its assets with DSS.

I recommend: Articles like this one at AccessMyLibrary focus on how DSS can be used in vendor managed inventory applications, and others that relate to stock supply. See more on DSS for inventory control at sites like SageJournals.

Use DSS for sales optimization and sales projections

Decision support technology can also be a tool that analyzes sales data and makes predictions, or monitors existing patterns. Whether it's big picture decision support tools, active or passive solutions, or any other kind of DSS tool, planners often tackle sales numbers using a variety of decision support resources.

I recommend: Find sales equations by decision support solutions and more from papers like this one from the Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and Management. See more on how DSS can impact a variety of industries at SAS.

Utilize DSS to optimize industry-specific systems

There are other uses for this powerful software option - to make good projections on the future for a business, or to get an overall 'bird's eye view' of events that determine company's progress. This can come in handy in difficult situations where a lot of financial projection may be necessary when determining expenditures and revenues.

I recommend: See an interesting case study of how DSS could assist state budget planners at Ask Dan! about DDS. Read about options for using DSS with medical data at Storming Media.