The primary focus of the research done under their support is on the information delivery aspects of ERP systems. The second major thrust of our research is on techniques for measuring the capabilities of ERP systems. The purpose of such measurement techniques is to provide for performance benchmarks to assist in configuring ERP systems during or after installation, or in comparing them when making acquisition decisions. It is proposed that there are three basic types of information processing, or information processing systems. These are elemental types out of which real information systems are composed.
Examples are airline reservation and credit card transaction processing system.
Decision support systems have as their major purpose analysis, by sorting, summing, reorganizing and correlating raw data, and producing from this analysis new information. In this characterization information is distinguished from data. Data are just raw items of measured amounts, while information is the result of correlating data, and thus exists at a higher level. Decision support systems must also save the new information they create, and present it in useful ways to humans when requested. Examples are customer spending pattern and airline seat utilization systems.