Integration of decision support systems to improve decision support performance

Decision support system (DSS) is a well-established research and development area. Traditional isolated, stand-alone DSS has been recently facing new challenges. In order to improve the performance of DSS to meet the challenges, research has been actively carried out to develop integrated decision support systems (IDSS). This paper reviews the current research efforts with regard to the development of IDSS. The focus of the paper is on the integration aspect for IDSS through multiple perspectives, and the technologies that support this integration. More than 100 papers and software systems are discussed. Current research efforts and the development status of IDSS are explained, compared and classified. In addition, future trends and challenges in integration are outlined. The paper concludes that by addressing integration, better support will be provided to decision makers, with the expectation of both better decisions and improved decision making processes

The Role of Civil Society in Decentralisa-tion and Alleviating Poverty: An Exploratory Case Study from Tanzania

This research report gauges Tanzanian civil society's influence in setting the decentralisation agenda, in providing crucial basic services (e.g. health) or to which extent CSOs advocate the rural poor about their rights and obligations

Strategy, perceived environmental uncertainty, management accounting systems and performance: An empirical investigation

This thesis is an empirical examination of the role of strategic business unit (SBU) strategy and perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) en the relations between \u27management accounting systems (MAS) design and SBU performance. Two extreme strategic postures of Miles and Snow\u27s typology were used in this study. They were prospector and defender. MAS design was defined in terms of the extent to which managers\u27 use of broad scope MAS information characteristics for decision making; A survey research methodology was used in this study. The responses of 62 SBU managers, drawn from a cross-section of manufacturing companies in Western Australia, were used in the data analysis. The companies included in the sample were randomly selected from a list of manufacturing companies published in Kompass Australia (1994/95). A path analytic technique was used to test the hypotheses developed in this thesis. The results indicated that under high (low) PEU, the use of broad (narrow) scope MAS information by managers operating in firms pursuing prospector (defender)-type strategy led to effective decisions, thus contributing to improved SBU performanc

Outside Evaluation of Conecticut\u27s Family Resource Centers : Final report

In 193, the Connecticut State Department of Education received federal support for the activities of nine existing Family Resource Centers (FRC) and for funding new FRCs. The FRCs were based on the premise that many childhood and adolescent problems can be prevented by strengthening effective family management practices and establishing a continuum of child care and support services linked to public schools or located in public school buildings. This report details the evaluation of the 18 school-based/linked FRCs, describing their structure and contexts, examining evidence of service use, and presenting information on the effects of the FRCs on families and schools. Chapter 1 presents the service delivery model, describes the core services, and describes the evaluation plan. Chapters 2 through 5 summarize findings related to the following areas: (1) structure of core services, service delivery, financial supports, and staffing characteristics; (2) processes used to deliver services in a school-based/linked setting, including collaborative arrangements; (3) use of FRC services; (4) impacts of FRCs on families and children; and (5) impact of FRCs on schools. Chapter 6 discuses the patterns observed that reflect the implementation of the FRC service delivery model and implications for delivering comprehensive integrated services to families. This chapter also presents recommendations for sustaining the school-based/linked delivery model of the FRCs at meaningful levels. Chapter 7 presents profiles of the 18 FRCs, including their setting, service delivery arrangements, primary collaborative arrangements, and the school relationship. Nine appendices include a description of the Evaluation Support System and data collection instruments. (KB