Success Surrogates in Representational Decision Support Systems

Abstract

When corporate difficulties arise, technology and new software development are often embraced as part of the solution. The modern manager has a wide variety of decision making aids at his or her disposal. One such aid, classified as a representational decision support system, is discrete event computer simulation. In order to assess the organizational impact of discrete event computer simulation, an instrument capable of measuring success is required. The importance of such assessment cannot be overemphasized. While empirical measurement of various information system inputs or independent variables such as information system budget expenditures or user participation is relatively straightforward, the development of corresponding output or dependent variables has been difficult. In an attempt to overcome these difficulties, researchers have suggested a variety of measurable surrogates. Work in this area has paved the way for the development of instruments used to assess success.