SNAP: A DSS to analyze network service pricing for state networks

摘要

This study describes the implementation of a spreadsheet-oriented Decision Support System (DSS) that helps in making telecommunications pricing decisions. The system, SNAP-DSS or Service Network Application and Pricing (SNAP)-based DSS, is developed using Microsoft Excel 2007 that also incorporates VBA programming language. We present this research within the context of OneNet, a non-profit state telecommunications service agency. The SNAP-DSS offers the ability to select the rate card options that best fit the preferred pricing strategies by providing a real-time, user-friendly, graphical user interface. The DSS not only captures the effect of changes in the pricing factors on each rate card option, but also allows the user to analyze various rate card options in different scenarios using different parameters. The paper includes some lessons learned for the DSS community.