Final answer:
Decision Support Systems are used for multiple levels of decision making within an organization and allow for flexible, interactive report generation. They focus on enhancing decisions by combining human judgment and computer-based information, offering a level of autonomy to users in accessing and analyzing data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Decision Support Systems (DSS) are interactive information systems that assist decision-makers in approaching complex problems with inadequate structure by leveraging data and models. These systems are typically used for operational, tactical, and strategic decision making, reflecting all levels of decision-making processes within an organization. DSS combines the intellectual resources of individuals with the capabilities of the computer to improve the quality of decisions. It includes human software interactions in complex automated systems, particularly focusing on the decision-making processes of workers as they are supported by the software system.
DSS are not confined to just structured decisions; they also assist in unstructured or semi-structured decisions, where human judgment is vital. Unlike traditional report systems, DSS usually provide flexibility in the types of reports they generate, which can be customized and may not follow a fixed format. Furthermore, DSS empowers users by allowing them to request and interact with different reports without necessarily relying on systems personnel. This means users can explore data, develop reports, and make decisions on-the-fly.