COLLABORATIVE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS: CLOUD, MOBILE AND SOCIAL APPROACHES
1. COLLABORATIVE DECISION SUPPORT
SYSTEMS: CLOUD, MOBILE AND SOCIAL
APPROACHES
Claudiu BRANDAS
West University of Timisoara
claudiu.brandas@e-uvt.ro
Otniel DIDRAGA
West University of Timisoara
otniel.didraga@e-uvt.ro
The 13th International Conference on
Informatics in Economy (IE 2014)
3. Introduction
Currently, cloud and mobile technologies,
combined with social networks have a
significant impact in the development of
support systems for collaborative decision-
making process within or outside
organizations.
These technologies support:
◦ (1) the development of contextual- or subject-
based decision makers grouped in a global
network of brains;
◦ (2) the development and implementation of
hybrid support systems like Cloud-Based
Collaborative Decision Support Systems.
4. From an organizational perspective,
we can emphasize that fact that most
decision-making processes have a
group character based on
collaboration and consensus [4].
On the other hand, the development of
social networks has created an
environment in which individuals,
grouped in the communities, justify
their decisions according to the
behaviour and opinions of the
community.
5. To determine the potential that these
technologies can offer regarding
Decision Support Systems in
collaborative decision-making processes
requires a detailed analysis of the
processes, scenarios, risks and limits of
these systems.
In this paper, we conducted a study on
current research and applications
regarding the use of cloud computing,
social networks and mobile technologies
in the field of Decision Support Systems,
Including a SWOT analysis.
6. Literature review
The integration of cloud computing
and mobile technologies in
collaborative decision-making
processes is a recent topic, and it is
too little addressed in the literature.
Most approaches are practical and
experimental prototype-based
decision support systems based on
these technologies [11] [13] [6] [8] [9].
7. Thimm (2012) described the design of
a cloud-based collaborative decision-
making support system entitled
GROPO-MOD System. According to
the author, the system is designed to
support a model-driven collaborative
decision-making approach based on
business process models with
moderation elements and to support a
cloud computing approach [14].
8. Radu et al. (2014) presented a
collaborative and cloud-based group
decision support system entitled iDS.
According to the authors, this Decision
Support System will be based on a
Business-as-a-Service cloud
computing model [12].
9. Regarding the integration of the social
networks in the DSS, we can mention
the papers of Antunes and Costa [1]
[2], who analyzed the influence of the
social network concepts (technical
infrastructure, online communities,
network analysis, and knowledge
management) on DSS and traditional
decision-making phases (intelligence,
design and choice).
10. Results and discussions
Cloud-Based DSS
◦ Application and infrastructure level:
requires the use of cloud computing
technologies and models for the
development and implementation of
decision support systems for collaborative
decision-making process support [14] [12]
[11].The most important cloud service
model for the development and use of
collaborative decision support systems is
BaaS (Business-as-a-Service).
11. ◦ Concept and DSS paradigm level: cloud
computing technologies and models allow
the development of decision-making
clouds based on a global collaborative
network of brains and decision-making
applications.
Within these complex structures, decision-
makers are decision points that contribute to
collective decision-making or they are the basis
for individual decisions based on collective
decisions. These structures can be organized
into contextual clusters depending on the area
in which decision making occurs (e.g. trade,
finance, medical, IT, social, etc.).
12. Mobile Technologies and DSS: this
involves the use of mobile
technologies within a cloud
infrastructure by the network of
decision-makers in order to participate
in collaborative decision-making
processes. Through these
technologies, decision-makers can be
permanently connected to the
decision-making clouds.
13. Social Networks and DSS: this
involves the use of social networks to
create decision-making clouds based
on decision-maker communities of
practice and knowledge. The social
networks can be used for decision-
making sharing and consensus or
voting process.
14. Scenarios and models of using cloud
computing, mobile technologies and
social networks in cloud-based
Collaborative Decision Support
Systems:
◦ (1) Scenario based on the One-Tier
Cloud-Based Collaborative Decision
Support System Model.
15. (2) Scenario based on the Two-Tier
Cloud-Based Collaborative Decision
Support System Model.
16. (3) Scenario based on the Three-Tier
Cloud-Based Collaborative Decision
Support System Model. In this
scenario, the third level consists of
intelligent agents for assisting
decision-making within collaborative
cloud-based decision-making
processes.
17. SWOT Analysis of cloud computing, mobile technologies and social
networks impact on Collaborative DSS
18. Conclusions
The development of cloud computing,
mobile technologies and social
networks has a significant impact on
collaborative decision-making
processes.
We can note that the paradigm of the
collaborative decision-making process
can rely on a global network of brains
based on cloud, mobile and social
networks.
19. The results of this research have
shown that:
◦ cloud computing is the most used
technology for developing collaborative
decision support systems and creating
decision-making clouds;
◦ mobile technologies allow real-time
access to the decision-making process for
decision-makers in the decision cloud;
◦ social networks are a complex
development environment for decision-
maker communities in the form of clusters
in areas of decision-making and sharing
the context and decision-making
processes.
20. As further applied research, we want
to develop a prototype of Cloud-Based
Hybrid Decision Support System for
commercial collaborative decision-
making. This system will be developed
based on the Two-Tier Cloud-Based
Collaborative Decision Support
System Model.
