The case for research in decision support systems

The ‘Physical Symbol System Hypothesis’ proposed by Newell and Simon states that any system capable of manipulating a set of symbols is also capable of intelligent action. Newell and Simon assert that this hypothesis forms the basis for research in artificial intelligence (AI). The belief is that computers are just as capable of intelligent action as are humans. This paper argues that the basis for research in decision support systems (DSS) contrasts sharply with that of AI in that DSS research assumes that a man-machine symbiosis is capable of a higher level of intelligent action than either man or machine operating independently.