PART 2

Methodology
Methodology in DSS is a systematic, theoretical analysis of the
methods applied to a field of study, or the theoretical analysis of the
body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge.
It, typically, encompasses concepts such as paradigm, theoretical
model, phases and quantitative or qualitative techniques.
SDLC Model

The systems development life cycle (SDLC), also referred to as the

application development life-cycle, is a term used in systems
engineering, information systems and software engineering to describe
a process for planning, creating, testing, and deploying an information
system. The systems development life-cycle concept applies to a range
of hardware and software configurations, as a system can be
composed of hardware only, software only, or a combination of both.
User Interference
The user interface, in the industrial design field of humanmachine
interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and
machines occurs. The goal of this interaction is effective operation and
control of the machine on the user's end, and feedback from the
machine, which aids the operator in making operational decisions.
Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the
interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy
machinery operator controls, and process controls. The design
considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to
or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology.

A user interface is the system by which people (users) interact with a

machine. The user interface includes hardware (physical) and software
(logical) components. User interfaces exist for various systems, and
provide a means of:

Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system

Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users'

manipulation

Flowchart
A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or
process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order
by connecting them with arrows. This diagrammatic representation
illustrates a solution to a given problem. Process operations are
represented in these boxes, and arrows; rather, they are implied by the
sequencing of operations. Flowcharts are used in analyzing, designing,
documenting or managing a process or program in various fields.
Data Flow Diagram

A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the "flow" of

data through an information system, modeling its process aspects.
Often they are a preliminary step used to create an overview of the
system which can later be elaborated. DFDs can also be used for the
visualization of data processing (structured design).
A DFD shows what kinds of information will be input to and output from
the system, where the data will come from and go to, and where the
data will be stored. It does not show information about the timing of
processes, or information about whether processes will operate in
sequence or in parallel (which is shown on a flowchart).

Program Code
Machine code or machine language is a set of instructions executed
directly by a computer's central processing unit (CPU). Each instruction
performs a very specific task, such as a load, a jump, or an ALU
operation on a unit of data in a CPU register or memory. Every program
directly executed by a CPU is made up of a series of such instructions
Numerical machine code (i.e. not assembly code) may be regarded as
the lowest-level representation of a compiled and/or assembled
computer program or as a primitive and hardware-dependent
programming language. While it is possible to write programs directly
in numerical machine code, it is tedious and error prone to manage
individual bits and calculate numerical addresses and constants
manually. It is therefore rarely done today, except for situations that
require extreme optimization or debugging.
PART 3

Summary

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a specific class of computerized

information system that supports business and organizational decisionmaking activities. A properly designed Decision Support System is an
interactive software-based system intended to help decision makers
compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal
knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and
make decisions.