Too Much of a Good Thing

Decision Support Systems

The Problem
The launch of the space shuttle Challenger is widely regarded as the biggest tragedy for the now defunct NASA space shuttle program. At the heart of the issue was the decision to launch in an atmosphere where managerial decisions consisted of “short cuts, compromise and operational heuristics.” (1) Access to timely information for key decision makers - in a format that could not be compromised by emotion or office politics - may have led to a different outcome.

Almost two decades later, the same issue persists. “In surveying 1000 middle managers of large companies in the U.S. and U.K., 59% miss important information almost every day because it exists within the company but they cannot find it.” (Accenture, Wall Street Journal, 2007). In a more recent article, Accenture lists the inability to “identify and focus on the metrics that really matter” among issues that plague struggling organizations.

The Unstoppable Solution
One of the best sources of information about your business is contained in the systems you already employ. The fact is that one of the most valuable assets your company owns is its data. We can channel that wealth of information from dissimilar sources through an executive level decision support system so you can learn more about the health of your organization at a glance. The people at the top of your organization can get the answers they need quickly without having to have a team of server administrators at the ready to answer a simple question.

We agree with Susan Feldman of IDC, a leading market intelligence firm, who says “timely access to relevant information is crucial.”