Interactive modelling in decision support systems

In the past, the use of computer models in decision support has involved the interpretation of written reports derived from the output of the model. In recent years, however, the development of microcomputers and distributed computing systems has made it possible for decision-makers to be provided, not with a written report, but with a copy of the model itself. The new relationship between the user and the model, which this development establishes, has important implications for the way in which decision support systems (DSSs) are designed and used. © 1991 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd