An investigation into the impact of guidance within a computer-based decision support system environment.

摘要

Research investigating the effectiveness of Decision Support Systems (DSS) is mixed. Some empirical studies conclude DSS use increases the user's effectiveness. Other studies find inconclusive or negative results with respect to DSS effectiveness. Still other research studies have proposed that research focused on improving the effectiveness of the DSS technology itself should precede research investigating the effectiveness of users that utilize the technology. Understanding the approaches to increasing DSS effectiveness is needed prior to the study of users and their performance gains through the use of such technology. It is from this latter perspective of DSS research that the contribution of this dissertation is realized.; The theoretical underpinnings of this dissertation are derived from the research conducted on the concept of embedding guidance within a DSS environment (Silver 1990; Silver 1991). Essentially, embedded guidance is defined as:; "How a decision support system enlightens or sways its users as they structure and execute their decision-making processes--that is, as they choose among and use the system's functional capabilities." (Silver 1991, 107); The research conducted in this dissertation empirically assesses the potential impact of embedding decision guidance within a DSS environment. To accomplish this objective, this dissertation employs a longitudinal experimental design in which the participants of the experiment are provided with DSS technology enhanced with different levels of embedded decisional guidance. This decision enhanced DSS technology is provided to assist the users in working through complex ill-structured problems derived from a business simulation conducted over an eight week experimental design period.; The hypotheses tested in this research are based upon the proposed relationships within the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, Bagozzi, and Warshaw 1989). More specifically, this dissertation assesses the impact of embedded guidance with respect to: DSS performance, DSS frequency of usage, user's perceived ease of use, user's perceived usefulness, and the attitude of the user toward the DSS. The findings within this dissertation support many of the proposed relationships within the Technology Acceptance Model.