Expert Systems And Executive Information Systems

Expert Systems and Executive Information Systems

Expert Systems

Expert Systems: Definitions Expert System “A system that uses human knowledge captured in a computer to solve problems that ordinarily require human expertise.”  Efraim Turban and Jay Aronson

Knowledge Base The set of information that has been collected from the experts that the system will use to make decisions.

Expert Systems: Definition Inference Engine The rules utilized by the system to generate observations.

Facts Data entered into the system by the user or gathered through “sensors.”

Explanation System A specialized inference engine that generates explanations for the answers presented by the system.

Expert System: Basic Structure

Expert Systems: Full Structure User Interface Explanation system Knowledge base editor Case-specific data

Expert Systems: Why use them? The EXCELL Decision Support System tutorials we have done ARE Expert Systems Codify the knowledge of the businesses experts No longer have to rely on the one person who knows

Executive Information Systems

Executive Information Systems: Definitions “An Executive Information System (EIS) is a tool that provides direct on-line access to relevant information in a useful and navigable format.”  Floyd Kelly

Executive Information Systems: The Purpose Help executives learn about their own organization Help executives ask better questions and make better decisions Allow timely access to information Direct management’s attention to specific areas of the organization or specific business problems

Executive Information Systems: How is this done? Usually built on top of an ERP Makes heavy use of Expert Systems

Executive Information Systems: Barriers to their effectiveness Bad organizational behavior Technical problems with the system Managers don’t know how to use them, or don’t want to know how to use them

References Expert Systems Principles and Programming, third edition by Giarratano and Riley; 1998. The Essence of Artificial Intelligence, by Alison Cawsey; 1998 Implementing an Executive Information System, by Floyd Kelly; 1994 Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, sixth edition by Efraim Turban and Jay E. Aronson; 2000.

Questions?