Amaral, Paulo Cardoso doAbreu, Manuel Pinto de2012-08-062012-08-062011http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/8825This dissertation is intended to establish a strategic framework for the development and implementation of an interactive decision support system (DSS) supporting the establishment of a Portuguese Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In line with the international responsibilities of the Member States of the OSPAR Convention1 and of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)2, which has to be regarded as the main legal and spatial framework for all activities in the ocean, such network aims the promotion of increased biodiversity knowledge and preservation. Nevertheless, the decision making must be based on the most careful, credible and unbiased scientific data and information. Hence, given that the natural oceanic system under consideration is unique, rapidly changing and, still mostly, non-predictable, by being a computer-based information system that transforms raw data into useful information, the DSS is intended to support activities at the management, operation and planning level (Keen & Morton, 1978). Pursuing a Case Study approach, a theoretical basis highlighting the organization‟s core theoretical concepts, giving special attention to the role of technology within the organization, accordingly to the modern, symbolic and postmodernist perspective, and the corresponding information processing, focusing on interactive decision support systems, is presented. A thorough analysis of the case study aiming at evaluating the adequacy between both the situation and the theory as well as to propose a strategic framework for the development and implementation of a tailored interactive decision support system is performed. For last, a discussion is conducted which, by integrating the theory with the MPAs real case, aims to sum up the theory as well as practice and introducing recommendation. The conclusions point to the enhancement of marine environment‟s exploration, exploitation and preservation through the DSS and further developments are thought towards the required mutual adaptation, from organization and technological systems, in order to develop and implement successfully such technology (Bygstad, 2005).engmaster thesis