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From Magnum Opus to Mea Culpa: A Cautionary Tale of Lessons Learned from a Failed Decision Support System

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  • Michael F. Gorman

    (University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio 45469)

Abstract

In this article, I present a case study of a failed decision support system (DSS) and describe the creation and collapse of a decision support project conducted with a client over a number of years. I provide insights and advice on organization, systems, data, and ongoing management and software support, as gleaned from mistakes made during the course of the project. The insights should prove useful for researchers, developers, and students of OR/MS-based decision support systems and the organizations that implement them.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael F. Gorman, 2016. "From Magnum Opus to Mea Culpa: A Cautionary Tale of Lessons Learned from a Failed Decision Support System," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 46(2), pages 183-195, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:46:y:2016:i:2:p:183-195
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2015.0818
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael F. Gorman & Dharma Acharya & David Sellers, 2010. "CSX Railway Uses OR to Cash In on Optimized Equipment Distribution," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(1), pages 5-16, February.
    2. Hugo P. Simão & Abraham George & Warren B. Powell & Ted Gifford & John Nienow & Jeff Day, 2010. "Approximate Dynamic Programming Captures Fleet Operations for Schneider National," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(5), pages 342-352, October.
    3. Robert E. D. Woolsey, 1973. "A Novena to St. Jude, or Four Edifying Case Studies in Mathematical Programming," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 32-39, November.
    4. Michael F. Gorman, 2010. "Hub Group Implements a Suite of OR Tools to Improve Its Operations," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(5), pages 368-384, October.
    5. Kalyan S. Pasupathy & Alexandra Medina-Borja, 2008. "Integrating Excel, Access, and Visual Basic to Deploy Performance Measurement and Evaluation at the American Red Cross," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 38(4), pages 324-337, August.
    6. Thomas Olavson & Chris Fry, 2008. "Spreadsheet Decision-Support Tools: Lessons Learned at Hewlett-Packard," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 38(4), pages 300-310, August.
    7. Amar Kumar Narisetty & Jean-Philippe P. Richard & David Ramcharan & Deby Murphy & Gayle Minks & Jim Fuller, 2008. "An Optimization Model for Empty Freight Car Assignment at Union Pacific Railroad," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 38(2), pages 89-102, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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