Blog: Dan Power

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A Decision Support Evangelist

My biographical sketch at DSSResources.com concludes "In summary, Dr. Dan Power is first and foremost a Decision Support evangelist and generalist. From his vantage point as editor of DSSResources.COM and PlanningSkills.COM he tracks a broad range of contemporary DSS and planning topics. In recent years, his writings have positioned him as a Decision Support theorist. His overall focus is on innovative DSS design and he likes to think of himself as a DSS Designer and Strategist, an Information Systems Researcher and a Decision Scientist (see http://dssresources.com/vita/bio.html)."

Evangelist is a term most often associatiated with someone with strong religious beliefs and I respect that use of the term. We have also often written of technology "evangelists" and my use and perspective follows on that legacy.

I enthusiastically promote and support the use of computerised decision support systems to assist decision makers. My goal is to lead the charge of decision support "best practices". Based upon empirical evidence, I have concluded that appropriately designed, developed and deployed technology-based decision support can improve decision making outcomes and create process efficiencies.

So I am a "true believer", but I know from experience that fit between decision maker wants and needs and the proposed technology solution is crucial to its ultimate use and success. I acknowledge my bias proudly. As far as vendors and solutions, I try to remain objective and I strive to analytically evaluate options and not bring a ready-made solution to every opportunity/problem.

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