Expert Systems - The New Business Simulation Tool

Abstract

Expert systems are receiving a tremendous amount of attention in the data processing and business communities. But few business educators have been exposed to the base concepts of expert systems or can appreciate the effect they will have on business. This presentation covers the fundamental principles of the design and development of expert systems in business. Special emphasis is placed ability of an expert system to simulate the behavior of a manager or executive in a decision making situation. The structure and operation of a typical expert systems is presented. The use of expert system development tools and expert system shells is discussed. An example is given of how an expert system can be used to capture and simulate management knowledge and the decision making process. As expert system development tools become commonplace, business educators must become as proficient with expert systems as they are now with spreadsheets.