Expert Systems for Software Engineers and Managers (Chapman and Hall Advanced Industrial Technology Series)

1 Expert System Its Market and Trends.- Definition of Expert Systems.- Forecasts of Expert System Markets.- Experts' Views on the Future of Expert System Technology.- Major Trends Observed.- 2 Basics of Expert System Technology.- The Ultimate Goal of Expert System Technology.- The Three Stages of Expert System Technology Growth.- The Basic Structure of Expert Systems.- 3 What Software Engineers and Managers Need to Know.- Advantages of Expert Systems over Conventional Software Programs.- Major Responsibility of Knowledge Engineers.- Development Cycles of Expert Systems.- New Skills Needed by Software Engineers.- New Knowledge Needed by Software Managers.- 4 Hardware and Software Tools Available to Software Engineers and Managers.- Computing Environment.- Programming Languages and Tools.- Considerations in Selecting Hardware and Software.- 5 Evaluation of Development Tools.- Evaluation Criteria.- Preliminary Evaluation of PC Tools.- Preliminary Review of AI Workstation Tools.- Lessons Learned.- 6 Historical Applications of Expert System Technology.- Statistics of Historical Applications.- Typical Tasks Involving Expert System Technology.- Two Case Studies of Expert System Development Cycles.- Lessons Learned.- 7 Prominent Applications to Conventional Software and Business.- Prerequisites for Successful Expert System Applications.- Major Approaches of Expert System Technology to Improvement of Conventional Software.- Application to Expert System Technology to Conventional Software Packages.- Expert System Technology and Business Applications.- 8 Proposing Expert System Projects.- Management and Human Expert Attitudes Toward Expert System Projects.- Obstacles in Initiating Expert Systems.- Who Initiates Expert System Projects.- Briefing Requirements.- Planning an Expert System Project.- Selecting Project Leaders, Knowledge Engineers, and System Programmers.- 9 Rapid Prototyping Expert Systems.- Internal Strategy.- Design Principles.- Where to Start Prototyping.- A Step-by-Step Life-Cycle Approach.- 10 Developing and Delivering Full-Scale Expert Systems.- Establishment of a System Goal.- Managing Knowledge Refinement.- Managing Expectations.- Evaluation and Validation.- Delivery, Maintenance, and Training.- Appendix A List of Commercial or Field-Tested Tools and Systems.- Appendix B List of Major Expert System Companies and Publishers.- Appendix C Glossary.- Selected Bibliography.