Excerpt from Decision Support Systems: A Research Perspective None of these conceptions necessarily implies interactive computer systems; a D88 is defined in terms of context and use. There is no technical conception for which one cannot readily generate coun terexamples. For instance, the design architecture, mode of use and available functions of an airline reservation system are virtually the same as those in many data-based dss. If a given dss is identical to, say, a standard interactive model, there seems no value whatsoever in using a new label. Dss become a meaningful research topic only if the term can be shown to be a necessary concept. In the pragmatic con text of information systems development and analytic techniques, call ing a system a dss must lead to some actions, by the designers or users, that would not have occurred otherwise; the actions should contribute to the effective development of the system or its effective use. A potential strength of the dss movement has been that it has at least tried to link theory and practice. It describes real systems used in real organizations by real problem-solvers, not experi ments involving captive students. At the same time, since it explicitly argues that dss are different from traditional systems, the better empirical work addresses conceptual issues, if only assertively. The available studies of dss thus often provide illustrations, extensions or counterexamples that can be used to test and extend their authors' About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.