Decision support system (DSS) model to facilitate strategic planning of the housing industry in the developing world

In Appendix 1; a case study/Iraq Housing Industry is selected to run scenarios and simulations in order to testing the DSS Model. The process aims to discover how the model responses to the given changes in relations to three different major tests cover all factors and variables of the housing industry. The first test examines how best to optimise Government Finance, Foreign Investment and Private Finance Partnerships/Initiatives (PPP and PFI). The second test investigates the best way to maximise Local Labour and Local Leadership and Project Managers (PM) using Traditional and Mix 50-50 construction methods. The third test profoundly discusses how best maximising local Building Materials in relation to Time. Moreover, the testing process will help realise the effectiveness, flexibility and vulnerability of the DSS Model to any change might occur in the planning process or perhaps required and desired by a government when setting mega strategies for the housing industry.It is important to bear in mind that this model primarily deals with the housing industry on a mega level (country level). It is also important to realise that the housing industry is closely affected by the performance of other industries and governmental department such The Ministry of Work and Pension (providing Labour and Know How), Ministry of Industry and Minerals (providing Building Materials), Ministry of Higher Education (providing Training to Local Labour and PM), Treasury and Ministry of Finance (proving and providing Finance), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (proving Foreign Labour), Ministry of Transport (providing SMEs and Supply Chains), etc. The housing industry relations with other industries will only be noted and not be discussed or significantly considered because this will derive, divert and shift the focus, concerns and goals from the housing industry to other industries. Therefore, the focus of this testing/analysing process will only be on the housing industry. Other industries performance and improvement could be investigated in different future research studies.This Section/Appendix 1 consists of two main parts; the first examines and tests the DSS Model by running three testing scenarios. The first is optimising finance sources: government, foreign investments and PPP and PFI. The second investigates ways of maximising local labour and PM in relation to time and using traditional and Mix 50- 50 construction methods. The third is examining the ways of maximising and increasing the production of local building materials and its effect on time. The second part is stating the concluding remarks and findings.Note 1: The controlling environment of the tests/a comparison point(s) for the DSS Model results is the market price of a single housing in Iraq at the time of testing.Note 2: in all scenarios, simulations and tests; the numbers of years are 20 for construction and 25 for after completion payments. Moreover, the total cost of housing is $82 B.