Decision support systems and expert systems: A comparison of their components and design methodologies

Many organizations are on the verge of committing considerable effort to the development of ES. To many Operational Research OR specialists such activities may appear to be very different from the type of work that they have traditionally been involved in, at the centre of which is some form of mathematical modelling. This paper begins by considering the components of ES and explores the apparent differences between them and the components of DSS. The design methodologies applicable to these two systems are then reviewed. It is concluded that both the components and the two methodologies are very similar, despite the differences in the terminology employed. A common terminology is suggested to be used by both Operational Research OR analysts and ES practitioners.