This book is based on a large-scale study concerning the development and operation of decision support systems in organizations. The study revealed a diversity of types of decision support systems and a wide range of usage and development patterns. Accordingly, instead of taking a dogmatic position on "how to guarantee successful decision support systems," this book emphasizes the choices that are available to developers and users of these systems. Although it cites related research, the book is primarily empirical, and it is strongly oriented toward implementation in organizations rather than toward technology. MIS and management science professionals can use it as a source of ideas concerning design choices and implementation strategies. In a course of decision support systems it can provide the students with a solid appreciation of how computer systems are being used to aid in decision making in business. Such use in an introductory course allows business students to learn about computer applications and their implementation without being deluged by details of technology that often lack interest for generalists. In a course on decision support systems, it can be used as the primary text and can be supplemented by research-related articles. It can also be used to provide an implementation-oriented component within the largely technical curriculum for computer system and management science specialists.