Evolution of DSS from Single User DSS to Inter-Organizational DSS

Abstract

Extranets are triggering a revolution in the structure and operations of many organizations in the new Internet-driven global economy. Extranets along with other technologies and business drivers are changing the way we view the firm from discrete firm-based to industry-based perspectives of cooperation. This paper discusses the evolution of decision support systems (DSSs) from single-user decision support systems to inter-organizational decision support systems (IODSSs). To better understand the IODSS, we briefly discuss two predecessors, organizational DSS and global DSS, followed by presenting the IODSS definition, architecture, and applications.