Decision-support systems are commonly referred to as what?

Decision-support systems are primarily known as business intelligence systems because they are designed to assist with analyzing data and making informed decisions within an organization. These systems aggregate data from various sources, allowing for comprehensive analysis and reporting. They employ techniques such as data mining, online analytical processing (OLAP), and complex statistical functions to interpret large volumes of data effectively.

In the context of business operations, the overarching goal of business intelligence systems is to enhance decision-making by providing actionable insights derived from the data. This can include visualizations, trend analyses, and key performance indicators that help stakeholders understand their operational performance, customer behaviors, and market dynamics.

While other terms like business information systems and business modeling systems may share some functionalities with decision-support systems, they do not encapsulate the same focus on data analysis and decision-making. Business information systems cover a broader range of activities, from transaction processing to system management. Business modeling systems tend to concentrate on the representation and analysis of business processes rather than direct decision support. Hence, the term business intelligence systems accurately captures the essence of decision-support systems in the context of facilitating data-driven decision-making in enterprises.