This article proposes a framework to explore the nature, scope, and content of the evolving topic of Decision Support Systems (DSS). The first part of the framework considers (a) three levels of technology which have been designated DSS, (b) the developmental approach that is evolving for the creation of a DSS, and (c) the roles of several key types of people in the building and use of a DSS. The second part develops a descriptive model to access the performance objectives and the capabilities of a DSS as viewed by three of the major participants in their continued development and use. The final section outlines several issues in the future growth and development of a DSS as a potentially valuable type of information system in organizations.

A framework for the development of decisoin support systems

One of the main goals of an applied research field such as software engineering is the transfer and widespread use of research results in industry. To impact industry, researchers developing technologies in academia need to provide tangible evidence of the advantages of using them. This can be done trough step-wise validation, enabling researchers to gradually test and evaluate technologies to finally try them in real settings with real users and applications. The evidence obtained, together with detailed information on how the validation was conducted, offers rich decision support material for industry practitioners seeking to adopt new technologies and researchers looking for an empirical basis on which to build new or refined technologies. This paper presents model for evaluating the rigor and industrial relevance of technology evaluations in software engineering. The model is applied and validated in a comprehensive systematic literature review of evaluations of requirements engineering technologies published in software engineering journals. The aim is to show the applicability of the model and to characterize how evaluations are carried out and reported to evaluate the state-of-research. The review shows that the model can be applied to characterize evaluations in requirements engineering. The findings from applying the model also show that the majority of technology evaluations in requirements engineering lack both industrial relevance and rigor. In addition, the research field does not show any improvements in terms of industrial relevance over time.

A method for evaluating rigor and industrial relevance of technology evaluations

This study is to develop and evaluate methods and instruments for assessing the usability of digital libraries. It discusses the dimensions of usability, what methods have been applied in evaluating usability of digital libraries, their applicability, and criteria. It is found in the study that there exists an interlocking relationship among effective ness, effi ciency, and satisfaction. It provides operational cri teria for effectiveness, effi ciency, satisfaction, and learn ability. It discovers users’ criteria on ”ease of use,” ”or gani za tion of in formation,” ”terminology and labeling,” ”visual attractiveness,” and ”mistake recovery.” Common causes of ”user lostness” were found. ”Click cost” was examined.

Usability Assessment of Academic Digital Libraries: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Satisfaction, and Learnability

Ergonomics of human-system interaction

The results of a user questionnaire are used to determine the effects of 17 different independent variables on user satisfaction.

What makes users happy

User-perceived quality of interactive systems is defined in terms of statistically nonoverlapping categories, so-called dimensions or factors Categories are identified by factor analysis and represent a dimensional concept of the quality of interactive systems as perceived by its users. Each category describes essential user requirements.

User-Perceived Quality of Interactive Systems

User-perceived quality of interactive systems is defined in terms of statistically non-overlapping categories, so-called dimensions or factors. Categories are identified by factor analysis and represent a dimensional concept of the quality of interactive systems as perceived by its users. Each category describes essential user requirements.This paper reports on a method and some initial results in the analysis of user-perceived quality of interactive systems. It is based on research work described in more detail elsewhere7.The methodology of approach is suitable for software requirements definition and human factors engineering.

W. D. Itzfeldt

Papers

User-Perceived Quality of Interactive Systems

User-perceived quality of interactive systems