An expert system in the domain of software technology transfer

In this paper, we discuss all of the steps needed to build an expert system (ES) in the domain of technology transfer into an organization. Firstly there is an introduction about the domain and the problems involved in software technology transfer (TT) into an organization, followed by a description of the usefulness of an advisory and planning ES to guide an inexperienced change agent in such activities. Secondly, we discuss the methodology-based construction of the ES and show the different phases and stages of the process. We detail a knowledge acquisition method used to both elicit knowledge and organize that knowledge as a task model. The conceptualization phase, closely linked with the above knowledge structuring step, establishes the concepts, relations and functions handled by TT. The result is a set of individualized tasks that make up a complete transfer plan. As regards formalization, system representation is frame-oriented, whereby the task; and their properties are encapsulated in frames and later the system is implemented in the Kappa tool environment. Finally the system is executed and evaluated by users. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.