Which elements are most closely integrated in decision support systems?

• A. Data and information
• B. Information and knowledge
• C. Knowledge and wisdom
• D. Data and knowledge

Answer: (B)

In decision support systems, the power comes from applying organized information to domain expertise to guide actions. Raw data are transformed into information that provides context and meaning, and then that information is interpreted with knowledge—such as rules, models, and clinical guidelines—to reason about options and suggest decisions. This close pairing of information with knowledge lets the system turn facts into actionable guidance. For example, a clinical decision support tool uses patient data to generate information like risk scores, then applies evidence-based knowledge to interpret those scores and recommend a treatment plan. Data alone are just raw facts; wisdom implies higher-level judgment beyond automated reasoning, so the strongest fit for how DSS operate is the combination of information and knowledge.