Journal profile · Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Decision Support Systems
ISSN 0167-9236 · eISSN 1873-5797 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1985
Decision Support Systems: CAS Zone 2 · Management (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 7.18; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,940; review about 285 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 132 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Decision Support Systems is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Management in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Digital Marketing and Social Media, Technology Adoption and User Behaviour and Consumer Market Behavior and Pricing, together about 20.9% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
and Electronic CommerceThe common thread of articles published in Decision Support Systems is their relevance to theoretical and technical issues in the support of enhanced decision making. The areas addressed may include foundations, functionality, interfaces, implementation, impacts, and evaluation of decision support systems (DSSs). Manuscripts may draw from diverse methods and methodologies, including those from decision theory, economics, econometrics, statistics, computer supported cooperative work, data base management, linguistics, management science, mathematical modeling, operations management, cognitive science, psychology, user interface management, and others. However, a manuscript focused on direct contributions to any of these related areas should be submitted to an outlet appropriate to the specific area.Examples of research topics that would be appropriate for Decision Support Systems include the following:1. DSS Foundations e.g. principles, concepts, and theories of enhanced decision making; formal languages and research methods enabling improvements in decision making. It is important that theory validation be carefully addressed.2. DSS Functionality e.g. methods, tools, and techniques for developing thefunctional aspects of enhanced decision making; solver, model, and/or data management in DSSs; rule formulation and management in DSSs; DSS development and use in computer supported cooperative work, negotiation, research and product.3. DSS Interfaces e.g. methods, tools, and techniques for designing and developing DSS interfaces; development, management, and presentation of knowledge in a DSS; coordination of a DSS's interface with its functionality.4. DSS Implementation - experiences in DSS development and utilization; DSS management and updating; DSS instruction/training. A critical consideration must be how specific experiences provide more general implications.5. DSS Evaluation and Impact e.g. evaluation metrics and processes; DSS impact on decision makers, organizational processes and performance.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Editor-in-chief Andrew N. K.Publisher website
Editorial board by country: 15 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 75, Mainland China 15, South Korea 10, Hong Kong, China 8, Taiwan, China 7 (144 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Digital Marketing and Social MediaSocial Sciences8.2%
- Technology Adoption and User BehaviourDecision Sciences7%
- Consumer Market Behavior and PricingBusiness, Management and Accounting5.7%
- Business Process Modeling and AnalysisBusiness, Management and Accounting5.6%
- Semantic Web and OntologiesComputer Science5.2%
- Educational Robotics and EngineeringComputer Science5.2%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering5%
- Auction Theory and ApplicationsDecision Sciences4.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Management Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Management | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Management Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Management | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 7.18LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 13.5LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 13.5Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.08LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.08LetPub ·
- h-index
- 127LetPub ·
- h-index
- 232OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,344OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 8.32OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 9.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 20.96%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 111LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,983 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 117 | 32 | 70 |
| 2025 | 132 | 30 | 624 |
| 2024 | 157 | 65 | 2,682 |
| 2023 | 143 | 36 | 3,395 |
| 2022 | 103 | 40 | 3,667 |
| 2021 | 138 | 53 | 6,267 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
285 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 18 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 18 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 285 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,940 / EUR 3,690 / GBP 3,150 / JPY 488,680 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,060 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare1 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1985
- ISSN
- 0167-9236
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-5797
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Decision Support Systems
What CAS zone is Decision Support Systems in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Decision Support Systems is in Zone 2 of Management, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence / Computer Science, Information Systems / Operations Research & Management Science; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Management. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Decision Support Systems?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.18; CiteScore 13.5, h-index 232.
How long does peer review take at Decision Support Systems?
The publisher reports about 285 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 18 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
Where are the editorial board members of Decision Support Systems based?
Of the 144 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 15 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (75), Mainland China (15) and South Korea (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Decision Support Systems?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Decision Support Systems is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Decision Support Systems open access, and what is the APC?
Decision Support Systems is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,940.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .