Nontechnical problems in knowledge engineering: Implications for project management

Building knowledge-based systems is generally seen as a technical process. While technical difficulties do arise in the course of this process, nontechnical aspects of project development can also be problematic. However, the latter may be harder for technically trained project personnel to recognize as such and solve. This paper addresses some nontechnical issues that can arise in the course of expert systems projects. Some are already well known in the expert systems world; others may not normally be thought of as issues at all, but we urge that they be considered as such. Since all such issues waste time, money, and goodwill, project personnel have reason to identify and avoid them.