¶ … sketch out a threefold process that includes work performed by the stakeholders involved in DSS. I make the case that each stage is crucial and for one stage to succeed it must be preceded and succeeded by the competent completion of the other two stages. In short, the end user must be presented with a list of options that are complete, adequately capturing the essence of the technological construct that the end user wishes to procure. The second stage, which involves the sales agent who interfaces with the customer, does not always involve personal with an expertise allowing him or her to fully anticipate the needs of the end user. Therefore, it is crucial that the third stage -- involving the Excel programmer -- includes as much specificity as possible in the template that the programmer constructs in order to assist the sales agent in the process of obtaining the appropriate and relevant information from the end user, who will ultimately be the one left with the final product. A Decision Support System (DSS) that commends a model of personal computer (CBC) to the potential buyer operates by discerning the needs of the user and automatically comparing them to a size of PC with optimized components. This process is pertinent because the more robust the computer...

The customer cannot be expected to buy a more powerful PC than his needs imply.
The success of this DSS rests on its capability of successfully stimulating and channeling the end users perception of need and, correspondingly, locating the appropriate product. Thus, the DSS functions as a hybrid of marketing and product engineering.

Decision support systems have become critical in marketing technical consumer products. Without automation, the recommendation for a product would frequently be faulty; although individuals who have the responsibility would tend to compensate by erring on the side of high capacities. Even with the assistance of DSS, customers, sales persons, and DSS developers and administrators bare responsibility for thoughtfulness and accuracy. Garbage in and garbage out with the DSS would be even less accurate than unsupported human judgment.

A Decision Support System for the recommendation of capacity and functionality in a personal computer maybe viewed from the perspective of three of the processes stakeholders. First, the customer who is shopping for a PC must consider the import of each question posed by the DSS. The DSS should communicate to him that misjudgments have consequences. For instance, if…