Download "Building Knowledge Automation Systems with Exsys CORVID" by

New Text Book
(Order form on page 5)
"Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
with Exsys CORVID" by Dr. Elias Awad
Dr. Awad has over 35 years of experience teaching MIS at six universities and
more than 10 years experience in building expert systems. He has authored
over 19 titles including: Building Expert Systems: Principles, Procedures, and
Applications, Business Data Processing, Automatic Data Processing,
Management Information Systems, Systems Analysis and Design, Database
Management and Human Resources Management: An Information Systems
Approach. In addition, he has published more than 70 papers in professional
journals and chaired numerous national conferences on expert systems.
Dr. Awad is currently Virginia Bankers Association Professor at McIntire School
of Commerce, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. His long history of
active involvement with premier computer organizations includes work with the Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM), Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), and the International Association of Knowledge
Engineers (IAKE). He also serves in the editorial board of several professional MIS journals.
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems deals with current realistic approaches of Knowledge Automation
Expert System technology - the direct delivery of Knowledge over the Web. Knowledge Automation Web sites deliver
decision-making knowledge and customized recommendations through an interactive interface, rather than just
providing facts and data. These types of Web-enabled systems can be integrated into Web sites by a variety of
techniques discussed in the book. The systems interact with users in a conversational manner that emulates a
“consultation” they might have with a human expert. This technology allows Web sites to make the next leap in
interactivity and dissemination of knowledge.
The book covers all steps in the process of building and fielding such systems. Sections cover everything from
selecting an appropriate problem to fielding a finished system. A very important section covers the often-overlooked
issues of working with experts, reaching consensus among multiple experts and various techniques for extracting
decision-making knowledge in a usable form. Other sections cover the issues of fielding systems on the Web and the
pros and cons of the various approaches.
Each chapter includes:
•
An “Implications for Management” section
•
Terms to Learn
•
Review and Discussion Questions
•
Exercises and Cases
®
Bundled with the book is an evaluation copy of EXSYS Inc.'s latest CORVID tool, which is based on over 20 years of
working closely with many developers to successfully build Knowledge Automation Expert Systems. This is a working
version that allows building small systems and fielding them on a Web site. In addition to the evaluation version of
CORVID (updates are available from the EXSYS Web site at www.exsys.com), a key disk is provided that extends
the time limits and size of systems that can be built to 120 days and 250 nodes. This enables larger systems to be
built and, by allowing the software to run for a full semester, provides an ideal tool for classroom use. The CORVID
software includes a “Quick Start” tutorial, software tours, and a manual that shows how to use the main features of
the development software. CORVID is a well-proven knowledge automation expert system development tool that is
easy to learn. The concepts described in the book can be rapidly and effectively implemented on actual Web sites
with minimal time spent learning to use the software.
The book can be ordered online at: www.exsys.com. Or, fill out the form provided on page 5 and fax to:
1.505.888.9509. You can also mail your order to EXSYS, or call: 1.505.888.9494.
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
1
Contents
Chapter 3 Application Areas 45
Chapter 1 Working Smarter, Not Harder 1
In a Nut Shell 2
Introduction 2
What Are Knowledge Automation Expert
Systems? 3
Hope Looms Ahead 3
Artificial Intelligence 4
A Brief History 5
The Many Faces of Artificial Intelligence 6
Speech Understanding/Recognition 6
Natural Language Understanding 7
Case-Based Reasoning 7
Neural Networks 7
Computer Vision 7
Machine Translation 8
Robotics 8
Automatic Programming 9
Do AI Systems Learn? 9
Practical Problems 9
Knowledge Automation Expert Systems:
A Branch of Artificial Intelligence 9
Knowledge Automation at Your Fingertips 10
The Knowledge Company 11
Managing Knowledge 11
The Intelligence of Organizations 11
Implications For Management 12
Chapter 2 Understanding Knowledge 17
In a Nutshell 18
Definitions 19
Knowledge 19
Intelligence 19
Experience 20
Common Sense 20
Cognition and Knowledge Management 21
Data, Information, and Knowledge 22
Data 22
Information 22
Knowledge 23
Characteristics of Knowledge 25
Types of Knowledge 27
Shallow and Deep Knowledge 28
Knowledge as Know-How 28
Reasoning and Heuristics 28
Common Sense as Knowledge 30
From Procedural to Episodic Knowledge 31
Explicit and Tacit Knowledge 33
Expert Knowledge 33
Chunking Knowledge 34
Knowledge as an Attribute of Expertise 34
Human Thinking and Learning 36
Human Learning 37
Learning by Experience 37
Learning by Example 37
Learning by Discovery 37
Implications for Management 38
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
Case Study – IAP International Assignment Profile
Systems 46
In a Nutshell 49
Introduction 49
Benefits of Knowledge Automation Expert
Systems 49
Limitations of Knowledge Automation Expert
Systems 52
Myths and Realities 54
Knowledge Automation Expert System
Activities 56
Control 56
Debugging 56
Design 58
Diagnosis 58
Instruction/Training 59
Interpretation 59
Monitoring 59
Planning/Scheduling 59
Prediction 60
Repair 60
Application Areas 61
Intelligent Agents 62
Implications For Management 63
Chapter 4 Knowledge Automation Expert System
Development Life Cycle 67
In a Nutshell 68
Introduction 68
Conventional vs. Knowledge Automation Expert
System Development Life Cycle 70
Key Differences 70
Key Similarities 72
User versus Expert 72
The Knowledge Automation Expert System
Development Life Cycle 73
Identify the Problem Domain 74
Application Justification 74
The Scope Factor 75
The Feasibility Option 75
Importance of User Support 76
Knowledge Capture 77
Role of Rapid Prototyping 78
Selecting an Expert 79
Role of the Knowledge Developer 79
Knowledge Representation 80
Implementation 81
Verification and Validation 82
Maintenance 82
Barriers to Knowledge Automation Expert System
Development 82
Top Management 82
The Knowledge Developer 83
The Domain Expert 83
The User 83
Implications for Management 84
2
Chapter 5 Capturing Tacit Knowledge –
The Basics 91
In a Nutshell 92
What is Knowledge Capture? 92
Evaluating the Expert 94
Levels of Expertise 97
Capturing Single versus Multiple Experts’ Tacit
Knowledge 98
Advantages and Drawbacks of Using A Single
Expert 98
Pros and Cons of Multiple Experts 99
Developing A Relationship With Experts 101
Creating the Right Impression 101
Understanding the Expert’s Style 102
Preparing For the Session 102
Deciding Where To Hold the Sessions 103
Approaching Multiple Experts 103
Fuzzy Reasoning and the Quality Of Knowledge
Capture 104
Analogies and Uncertainties In Information 104
Understanding Experience 105
The Language Problem 105
The Interview As A Tool 106
Types of Interviews 107
Guide To A Successful Interview 110
Setting the Stage and Establishing Rapport 110
Phrasing the Questions 111
Question Construction 111
Things to Avoid 113
Reliability of Information from Experts 114
Errors Made by the Knowledge Developer 115
Problems Encountered During the Interview 115
Response Bias 115
Inconsistency 116
Communication Difficulties 116
Hostile Attitude 116
Standardized Questions 117
Length of Questions and the Duration of the
Interview 117
Ending the Interview 117
Issues to Assess 118
Rapid Prototyping In Interviews 119
Benefits and Drawbacks 119
Implications For Management 120
Chapter 6 Other Knowledge Capture
Techniques 127
In a Nutshell 128
Introduction 128
On-Site Observation 129
Brainstorming 130
Electronic Brainstorming 131
Protocol Analysis 133
Protocol Procedure—Diabetic Foot Knowledge
Automation Expert System 136
Consensus Decision Making 137
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
The Repertory Grid 138
Nominal-Group Technique (NGT) 141
Delphi Method 142
Concept Mapping 143
Concept Mapping and Semantic Nets 145
Blackboarding 145
Implications for Management 148
Chapter 7 Inferencing Strategies and
Explanations 159
In a Nutshell 160
Introduction 161
How Humans Reason 162
Reasoning with Logic 163
Deductive Reasoning 163
Inductive Reasoning 164
Inferencing with Rules: Backward and Forward
Chaining 166
Backward Chaining 167
Forward Chaining 168
Opportunistic Reasoning 170
Backward Chaining in Exsys CORVID 170
Adding One More Layer of Chaining 174
Comparison of Inference Engines to Traditional
Programming 176
Forward Chaining in Exsys CORVID 176
Implications for Management 177
Chapter 8 Implementing the Knowledge
Automation 183
In a Nutshell 184
Issues Related to Implementation 185
Selection of Problem Domain 185
Ease of Understanding the Knowledge Automation
Expert System 186
The Issue of Maintenance 187
Organizational Factors 189
The Role of the Champion 190
Technology Transfer 191
Integration Alternatives 192
User Training and Development 192
Preparing for System Training 194
Combating Resistance to Change 195
Post-Implementation Review 197
Security Considerations 198
Implementing the Knowledge Automation Expert
System 198
Intelligent Database Systems 199
Intelligent Database Interface 199
Implications for Management 201
Chapter 9 Implications of the Web on Knowledge
Automation 209
In a Nutshell 210
Providing Answers 210
Logical Processing 211
3
Appropriate Problem 211
Appropriate Technology 211
Know the Tools and the Limitations 212
Complexity of the Logic 212
Resource Intensive Part of the Project 212
Realistic and Efficient User Interface 213
Success Stories 213
Case Study 1 213
Hewlett Packard’s CAST System 213
Thinking It Through 215
Case Study 2 216
Small Business Administration Wizard 216
Web Delivery 217
Server-Based vs. Client-Side 217
The CGI Approach 217
Persistence 218
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
Java Servlets 218
Client-Side Download 219
Java Applet Delivery & Portability 219
Applet Scalability 220
Exsys CORVID Servlets vs. Applets 220
Implications for Management 221
Appendix A Installing Instructions for Exsys
CORVID Knowledge Automation Expert System
Development Software 223
Appendix B Exsys CORVID Knowledge Automation
Expert System Development & Deployment Technologies
White Paper 227
Index 261
4
Fax or Mail Order Form
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
With Exsys CORVID
By. Dr. Elias M. Awad
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems deals with
current realistic approaches to Knowledge Automation Expert
System technology and the direct delivery of Knowledge over the
Web. These types of systems interact with users in a manner that
emulates a “consultation” they might have with a human expert. The
book covers all steps in the process of building and fielding such
systems. Sections discuss everything from selecting an appropriate
problem to fielding a finished system, including Web integration and
the pros and cons of various approaches.
Includes Exsys CORVID 120-Day evaluation software CD and license key disk that enables the
reader to build systems of up to 250 nodes.
Shipping Address: (Please print carefully)
Name____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City________________________________________________________State_____________Postal Code___________________
Country_____________________________________Daytime Telephone Number_______________________________________
Email____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quantity____________
Subtotal_________________
Price: $95.00@ USD
Add Shipping_________________
Shipping & Handling (4-9 business days)
U.S. Priority
$9.50@
All other countries
$19.00@
Add sales tax (New Mexico only)_________________
Total $USD_________________
___Visa
___MasterCard
___Check or Money Order
Account Number____________________________________Expiration Date______/______
Signature of Cardholder_____________________________
EXSYS, Inc., 2155 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Suite 3100, Albuquerque, NM 87110 U.S.A.
www.exsys.com
Tel: 1.505.888.9494 Fax: 1.505.888.9509
[email protected]
Building Knowledge Automation Expert Systems
5