Using knowledge-based systems for teaching and performing knowledge-based systems development

This paper describes the development of a knowledge-based system (KBS) for guiding both technical and non-technical managers in finding, defining, selecting and evaluating a small knowledge-based system development project. The work described here is part of an ongoing research project studying the use of KBS both to teach and to do KBS development. So far, as part of this research project, over the past two years over 200 non-technical and tehnical full-time business managers have developed some 160 KBS prototypes in conjunction with an MBA course in strategic planning. Based on replies to a survey of this test group, 28% of the KBS developed by survey respondents were reportedly used at work, 21% led to promotions, pay raises, or new jobs, and 12% led to participation in other KBS development projects at work. All but two of the survey respondents reported that their work on the KBS development project led to a substantial increase in their job knowledge or performance. The KBS work described here extends research work described by Cullen and Bryman ( 1988), Slagle and Wick ( 1988), Cohen and Howe ( 1988, 1990), and Mockler 1989.