Decision Support as Knowledge Creation: An Information System Design Theory

The primary purpose of decision support systems (DSS) is to improve the quality of decisions. This paper suggests that improvement in decision quality is a function of the creation of new data and information applicable to the decision domain and the understanding and learning of that new knowledge by the decision maker; i.e., the purpose of decision support is knowledge creation. We propose an information system design theory for DSS as knowledge creation based on Nonaka´s knowledge spiral, including multiple kernel theories. These kernel theories and the associated process design methods are drawn from five distinct literatures: cognitive science, the theory of learning, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, and decision theory