Decision support definition: an information system that supplies information specifically to aid managers with decision-making responsibilities is called a what?

Introduction / Context:
Organizations deploy different classes of information systems for distinct purposes. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) capture routine operations, Management Information Systems (MIS) summarize periodic performance, and Decision Support Systems (DSS) provide interactive, model-driven analysis to help managers evaluate options under uncertainty. Distinguishing these helps match tools to managerial tasks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The system is explicitly to aid managerial decision-making.
• We are not merely storing data (DBMS) or administering databases (DBA).
• We need a system that supports “what-if” analysis, modeling, and ad-hoc queries.

Concept / Approach:
A Decision Support System (DSS) combines data (internal and external), models (optimization, simulation, forecasting), and user interfaces that let managers run scenarios. Unlike a DBMS (a software layer to store/retrieve data) or a generic MIS (periodic reporting), a DSS is interactive and exploratory, designed to improve the decision process itself.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
IS textbooks categorize DSS as the system class enabling ad-hoc analysis and decision modeling, distinct from MIS and TPS.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• DBMS: a data management software component, not a managerial decision tool by itself.
• MIS: broader reporting; not as interactive/model-centric as DSS.
• DBA: a job role, not a system.
• None: incorrect because DSS is the exact term.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming any reporting equals decision support; DSS emphasizes exploratory analysis and model integration beyond routine reports.

Final Answer:
DSS