Design requirements for decision support systems for RDT&E

摘要

This paper outlines some design requirements for situation description, policy specification and decision consequences feedback systems of the type that could be used to help manage RDT&E portfolios for large organizations. Seven of these Decision Support Systems (DSS) were inspired by a DSS subsystem classification scheme developed by Alter. Recently developed multipurpose software packages of an inter-active, user-friendly nature are also recommended. Three additional systems design characteristics are proposed: a convenient multi-input format for policy guidelines and constraints; an organizational incentives index for evaluating proposals; and a historical analogies subsystem based upon the company's previous experience with decisions of a similar nature.