Martin Fahy

A framework for the classification of DSS usage across organizations

The research project reported in this paper constitutes an attempt to build upon existing research in the DSS area, namely the well-known framework for DSS developed by Gorry and Scott Morton. The authors put forward a revised framework which researchers in the field can use to classify DSS applications meaningfully and make comparisons across large samples of systems and organizations. The findings of a three year action research study were used to develop a framework for the classification of DSS usage which was then tested empirically. The organizations studied were classified based on the extent to which they used DSS for different decision situations using two specific measurements: DSS spread and DSS complexity. The results obtained suggest that the framework which was developed in this research is a useful vehicle for categorizing the degree of maturity of organizations regarding their usage and development of actual DSS applications.

The impact of e-commerce on small Irish firms

Electronic Commerce has the potential to transform the way business is conducted throughout the world. It can eliminate traditional constraints such as time, distance and location, enabling companies to launch themselves instantaneously into a global marketplace. This new business medium offers many benefits to both consumers and industry alike, such as cost reduction, convenience, improved services and relationship building. The attitudes of both consumers and businesses towards e-commerce must be altered if the potential benefits are to be realised. Many websites merely act as advertising and marketing mediums. Few organisations and in particular small firms are launching fully interactive sites due to the high degree of risk involved. Trust, security, consumer protection and confidentiality are elements of an e-business transaction that must be guaranteed if e-commerce is to feature significantly in the future business environment.

Planning for information systems resources

Increasingly, organizations are looking towards IS planning in an effort to force information technology to live up to its heralded promise. Many of these are finding that their efforts are resulting more in disappointment than in organizational advantage. This article reviews the principles of information systems planning and reports the practices found in organizations. The authors argue that these practices lack the high level direction required to achieve mastery in the area. To rectify this, they propose a four-tier planning framework for information technology, information systems, and information management. This framework provides guidance for an integrated approach to the management of an organizations information and technology resources by promoting the development of a planning platform from which consolidated planning can take place at operational, tactical, and strategic levels.

Measuring DSS Usage and Success in Organisations Based on the Novelty and the Specifiability of the Problems Addressed

ABSTRACT The work reported in this paper is an attempt to build upon existing research in the DSS area in order to enable the accurate measurement of the degree and extent of DSS usage in organisations. We put forward a framework for the classification of DSS usage which uses two dimensions, the novelty and specifiability of decision situations. This framework can be used by IS researchers to classify DSS applications meaningfully and make comparisons not only across large samples of systems, but also across organisations. In order to prove the validity of our novel approach, we studied and classified 24 Irish organisations based on the extent to which they used DSS for different decision situations using two specific measurements: DSS spread and DSS complexity. The results obtained confirm our initial empirical results (obtained with a smaller sample of organisations). The framework we have developed is a useful vehicle for categorising the extent to which organisations have managed to integrate their DS...