Title: Enhancing management decision making in global enterprises using GIS principles

Authors: A. James Wynne, Harry L. Reif, Chandrashekar D. Challa

Addresses: Department of Information Systems, School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23284, USA. ' Computer Information Systems Program, College of Business, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA. ' Sapthagiri Consulting, Suite 103, 200 Westgate Parkway, Richmond, VA 23233, USA

Abstract: Business organisations are increasing their influence and presence throughout the world as domestic economies become oversaturated. Organisations increasingly turn to international commerce to discover new markets. Globalisation requires that firms adapt their management and decision-making practices to recognise localised cultural, political, legal, social, and security requirements. In response, organisations are revamping their decision processes, tailoring them as cultures evolve, political assumptions and realities change, laws are enacted, social issues come to the forefront, and security requirements mature. Traditional decision support systems (DSS) are incapable of readily incorporating localised variables into decision-making processes and must be enhanced. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), have the potential to enhance traditional management decision-making (DSS) tools by adapting them for use in global environments. This paper proposes the melding of GIS and DSS toolsets to create a new framework, hereinafter referred to as Geographically-Enhanced Decision Support Systems (GEDSS), for enhanced management and decision-making for businesses.

Keywords: data management; decision making; decision support systems; spatial DSS; filter management; GEDSS; geographic information systems; GIS filters; global decision making; global enterprise; global environment; global information systems; global organisations; management; model management; multinational organisations; globalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2006.010745

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2006 Vol.7 No.5, pp.538 - 556

Published online: 28 Aug 2006 *

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