DMSS Implementation Research: A Conceptual Analysis of the Contributions and Limitations of the Factor-Based and Stage-Based Streams

Abstract

The implementation process of Decision-Making Support Systems (DMSS) is a highly complex process. Frequent implementation failures have caused the number of DMSS installed and adequately used to be far less than expected. The Theory of Factors and the Theory of Stages have been used to study this problem. Both approaches have generated a rich picture about key DMSS implementation issues. However, this knowledge is fragemented and disperse, offering only partial and reduced views and finding about strategies, tactics and operational processes to avoid failures in DMSS implementations. In this chapter, we organize the previous work into a unified and complete picture of the phenomenon. First, we examine the nature of the implementation problem from these research perspectives. Secondly, we continue with a conceptual analysis of the theoretical foundations of the Factor-based and Stage-based approaches. In this analysis we discuss the main models posed in both approaches and synthesize their findings. Then, their contributions and limitations are discussed and the Systems Approach is suggested as a research methodology to alleviate the difficulties. Finally, conclusions and directions for further research are presented.