Title: The evaluation of a web-based decision support system for healthcare project appraisal

Authors: Alaa Abdou; John Lewis; Sameera Al Zarooni

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, UAE ' School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK ' Faculty of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, UAE

Abstract: A web-based decision support system for healthcare project appraisal was developed. Its main objective focuses on assisting decision-makers in examining different function programme alternatives and their associated budgets for public healthcare projects in the United Arab Emirates. In order to test its main functions, a prototype was constructed for the proposed system. An evaluation strategy was developed with the main aim being to verify and validate the prototype as well as to assess its potential users' satisfaction. It was implemented on three assessment levels: technical verification, performance validation, and subjective evaluation. The prototype was presented to a set of healthcare industry experts in two different workshops for review and assessment. A questionnaire survey was employed during these workshops in order to evaluate the prototype and to assess its potential user satisfaction. The outputs of the evaluation validate the major aspects of the prototype and its performance. This paper describes the proposed strategy and focuses on its implementation.

Keywords: decision support systems; user satisfaction; UAE; United Arab Emirates; Abu Dhabi; Dubai; Ras al-Khaimah; web-based systems; world wide web; internet; healthcare projects; project appraisal; decision making; programme alternatives; associated budgets; prototypes; evaluation strategies; potential users; assessment levels; technical verification; performance validation; subjective evaluation; industry experts; Tawam Hospital; Rashid Hospital; Saif Bin Ghubash Hospital; project organisation; project management; project costs; cost management; contract management; contracts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2013.053155

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2013 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.69 - 90

Published online: 31 Jan 2014 *

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