Step-by-step procedure provides a beginning in developing an expert system. (Expert Systems) (Tutorial)

Successful development of an expert system usually involves at least four different, sometimes independent, categories of people: the expert, the knowledge engineer, the system programmer (computer scientists), and the end user. Each of these has a different behavior and different approach to problem-solving. Lack of compromise and collaboration can, therefore, pose some problems to expert system project development at the conceptual design stage.

Outlined here are some useful, "how to get started" procedures for successful development of an expert system (ES) project.

A new venture usually begins with an idea of improvement (innovation) or new design (creativity). Once an idea is generated, troubleshooting the environment follows. This means subjecting the proposed system to constraints and problem-solving/decision-making techniques (Figure 1). Questions to be asked at the idea stage are:

1.) Specify the attributes of the problem to be solved by defining what the problem is. For example, has the organization solved problems like this in the past? If yes, how were they solved? Were the solutions successful? Why was there a change? What should be known about the success and failure of the current models? How would ES technology provide a solution to this problem? What are the specific goals to be achieved? How would ES accomplish these goals? Would other technologies (tools) be better?

2.) Evaluate the idea for its suitability to the company's culture. Is the organization …