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Abstract
Simon classifies decisions as programmable or nonprogrammable depending on whether or not the decision-making process can be described in detail before the decision is made. Management science (MS) techniques and management information systems (MIS) approaches have been used successfully in organizations for aiding programmable decisions.
On the other hand, the decision making processes used for unprogrammable decisions are more difficult to model because of the ill-structured nature of the problems in terms of complexity, lack of knowledge about the problems, need for nonquantifiable data, etc. To help managers deal with nonprogrammable (unstructured) decisions, a group of information systems researchers have advocated the decision support system (DSS) approach.
A very promising aspect of a DSS is its ability to integrate data access and a decision model which can incorporate multiple and frequently conflicting goals and the subsequent subjective judgement that are characteristic of unstructured decision making. It does so by imbedding the decision model in an information system which uses databases as the integration and communication mechanism between models, data, and user.
The first objective of this study is to design and develop a goal programming imbedded decision support system (GPDSS) with emphasis on system flexibility and user friendliness. GPDSS will support the decision maker in resolving problems with multiple criteria that may involve conflicting objectives, but with emphasis on semi-structured and unstructured decisions. These are the types of decisions that have had little or no support from MS or MIS in the past.
The second objective is to offer a goal programming based contingency plan that policy makers of a state can use in coping with serious petroleum shortages, utilizing GPDSS for Nebraska as a case study. The plan will identify compromise solutions in conflicting decision situations and attain a satisfactory coordination between the often conflicting interests of various constituency groups.
