Conference heron::euro_swas_ai

244.0. "DPM - Knowledge Base Development." by CHEVIE::FITZGIBBON (Joe Fitzgibbon VB/EIC) Mon Nov 05 1990 15:12

	At the wrap-up of last weeks AI Forum, Stephane Ripoll, Caroline Stutz
and Leopold Ngamby were kind enough to volunteer their spare time to ensuring 
that Expert System project methologies are correctly represented in the DPM
documentation set. I agreed to co-ordinate the activity and interface with
George Ristich. This note is to start the ball rolling on how we go about 
performing this task.

	I have not yet read any DPM documentation on Software Engineering
techniques, but I am making the assumption that a subject for definition by
this community is the techniques and management issues which relate specifically
to the development of the Knowledge Base contents of any expert system
application - and any issues around integration. 

	In order to minimise any effort on our part I suggest we take the 
opportunity to  "re-use" existing documentation on the subject and restrict 
ourselves to a "cut and patch" operation.

	I would therefore suggest that the goals of this topic be to identify 
any diversity of opinion from the guidelines offered in the Grey Book (Guide to 
Expert System Program Management), any suggestion for aspects not included in 
the Grey Book, or any opinions on which elements of the Grey Book are not 
necessary - i.e. they are general enough to be covered by conventional software
project methodologies.

	If anybody has their favourite "reference work" on the subject, which 
they would like to include as potential source material, then please make it 
known since we (I) do not have any strong theological preferences.
	

	We may consider dividing our efforts into two fields -

	1. Management process items which are essential to the
	   successful development of the Knowledge Base contents and integration
	   considerations. This will include issues of Why, Who, roles, 
	   Resourcing, awareness, education, communication, planning for change, prototyping, evaluation and 
	   evolution, etc...
	   

	2. Techniques specific to the definition and development of a Knowledge
	   Base; issues of Elicitation, formalisation, representation, 
	   inference, evaluation and verification of KB, distribution, 
	   maintenance, etc....
	   
	Does anybody consider the question of integration to be significant
enough to merit separate treatment?

Regards,
	Joe.