Agent based approach for organization and personal knowledge modelling: knowledge management perspective

The paper tries to bridge gap between knowledge management and artificial intelligence approaches proposing agent-based framework for modelling organization and personal knowledge. The perspective of knowledge management is chosen to develop two conceptual models—one describes the intelligent enterprise memory, another models an intelligent organization’s knowledge management system. The concept of an agent-based environment of the knowledge worker for personal and organizational knowledge management support is introduced.     

Information technology and knowledge in software development teams: The role of project uncertainty

Knowledge is a strategic resource; information technology (IT) is presumed to facilitate its movement among organizational members. The relevant literature, however, is inconclusive. This study reports the results of the effect of IT on knowledge-sharing processes, i.e., knowledge exchange and knowledge combination, under conditions of project uncertainty. Our results indicate that both exchange and combination are necessary to fully explain the relationships and that the consideration of a project's outcome is also important. While project uncertainty confounds the knowledge-sharing processes regardless of technology, the frequency of technology use routinely increases knowledge exchange and combination in a software team.     

OKQA：一个基于本体的软件开发知识QA工具

近年来,软件开发模式逐渐从经验驱动的手工构造模式到知识驱动的自动生成模式进行转换,而在知识驱动的软件开发过程中,QA工具可以帮助开发人员更好地理解项目源代码。一般的,开发人员往往需要阅读大量文档、并对软件项目代码进行静态分析,利用某种形式化的查询方法才能获取软件项目的相关信息,这增加了软件开发的时间成本和学习成本。基于该问题,实现了一个基于本体的软件开发知识QA工具OKQA,OKQA可以支持开发人员的自然语言查询输入,帮助开发人员找到理解软件代码的相关答案,从而有效地指导开发人员理解及复用软件代码。     

The role of domain knowledge in software design

Abstract

If effective knowledge-based support is to be provided for software designers, the process of software design, and the classes of knowledge used by designers must be understood more clearly. It has been shown that a software designer's experience of designing software in the current application domain has a significant effect on the production of a quality design. However, in gaining experience of designing software, a designer gains knowledge in various distinct areas, including software design and the application domain. It is currently unclear which elements of this experience are important. In particular, the role of application domain knowledge that is independent of software design is of great significance for builders of intelligent software design support systems, since the overheads involved in providing application domain knowledge for a variety of application domains in such systems would be huge. This paper reports on a study that has been carried out to gain insights into this question, based around the structured techniques of DeMarco (1979) and Yourdon and Constantine (1979). From this preliminary investigation it would appear that a designer's general knowledge of the application domain does not affect the quality of a design produced for a system in this domain; this runs contrary to current popular beliefs.     

The role of domain knowledge in software design

If effective knowledge-based support is to be provided for software designers, the process of software design, and the classes of knowledge used by designers must be understood more clearly. It has been shown that a software designer's experience of designing software in the current application domain has a significant effect on the production of a quality design. However, in gaining experience of designing software, a designer gains knowledge in various distinct areas, including software design and the application domain. It is currently unclear which elements of this experience are important. In particular, the role of application domain knowledge that is independent of software design is of great significance for builders of intelligent software design support systems, since the overheads involved in providing application domain knowledge for a variety of application domains in such systems would be huge. This paper reports on a study that has been carried out to gain insights into this question, based around the structured techniques of DeMarco (1979) and Yourdon and Constantine (1979). From this preliminary investigation it would appear that a designer's general knowledge of the application domain does not affect the quality of a design produced for a system in this domain; this runs contrary to current popular beliefs.     

Industrializing software development: a Japanese approach

An overview is given of Japan's Sigma (Software Industrialized Generator and Maintenance Aids), and of the Sigma system itself. Sigma provides a rich, standardized environment. It consists of the Sigma Center, Sigma network, and Sigma user sites. The Sigma Center will help users who are constructing development environments of programs using those environments. It will provide database services, demonstration services, and part of the network service. The Sigma network is a Unix-based network that connects the Sigma Center to the Sigma user sites, the Sigma Center to external networks. A typical Sigma user site includes Sigma workstations running Sigma OS, a local area network, and the Sigma gateway, which is a communications server and protocol-conversion system. The Sigma development tools are discussed     

基于度量和知识的软件过程管理系统的研究

越来越多的软件企业开展了知识管理和基于CMMI的软件过程改进.首先分析了软件度量与软件过程改进的关系;然后进一步分析了软件度量、知识管理与软件过程改进的关系;最后重点介绍了一个软件过程管理系统的模型框架、系统架构和主要功能.     

基于知识管理的E—learning软件工程教学平台的研发

本文以现代化网上教学平台的发展为基础,在调研了大学精品课网站的现况下,描述了在知识管理的基础之上如何实现软件工程课程的智能化的教学平台。此平台的研发可以实现“用问题解问题”,“课程中穿插项目实践”。为国家精品课程网站的“做中学”目标和最终实现“any where any time study”的目标提供同步服务。本文在研究知识元模型的构建之上,提出了在软件工程教学管理平台中具体的知识模型。并在此之上对知识搜索,知识管理进行了补充。实现了论坛中“我爱问”的功能模块的设计。     

An approach for pattern oriented software development based on a design handbook

In many mature engineering disciplines, reuse of available design knowledge is helped by the presence of handbooks. These handbooks record the details of existing system components and help in the process of evaluating design alternatives while building new systems. In recent times, design patterns have been identified as fundamental components of an object oriented design. However, they are presented in a format that may not be best suited for systematic selection and use while evaluating design alternatives. This paper provides a procedure to construct a handbook based on design patterns. This handbook helps designers in methodical selection of design patterns. The construction of the handbook is based on the identification of a set of key attributes of a design pattern and quantification of these attributes using the principles of measurement theory. A new methodology for object oriented design which consults the handbook during the design process is also introduced. The proposed methodology along with the handbook helps in evaluating different design alternatives. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Practical experiences in modelling software engineering practices: The project patterns approach

Software process improvement in software development organisations is a complex task that can be solved using knowledge management strategies. In this area, the definition and use of process patterns are a proven approach to apply knowledge management strategies in software engineering organisations. One of the main problems for the effective application of process patterns in the software industry is the difficulty of formalising the knowledge about the development process using these approaches. This study presents a framework to manage software project patterns. This framework (which is composed of a metamodel and a platform for patterns modelling and reuse) is able to formalise the knowledge on software development projects including software engineers’ previous experience, development methodologies, references frameworks and lessons learnt. The authors carried out an empirical study at Carlos III University of Madrid, where junior software engineers used the project patterns defined in this research work. The evidences and findings obtained during the empirical study execution indicates that correctness of the pattern depends on relevance of the bibliographic references used to create it, implementation of a knowledge sharing strategy among the personnel involved and previous experience in the business areas related to the information systems being developed. The results obtained from the empirical study also envisage that the usefulness of an sdPP (Software Development Project Pattern) depends on the ease of identifying when and how to apply a specific sdPP in a software project.     

VVF: integrating modelling and GIS in a software tool for habitat suitability assessment

A computer program, VVF, has been developed to assess the suitability of a territory as habitat for a species. It integrates several types of Habitat Suitability models into a Geographical Information System. In addition to standard GIS functions, VVF allows a user to create, modify and store new Habitat Suitability models for different species, to create Habitat Suitability maps by running Habitat Suitability models for specific areas, and to process these maps. The program requires only basic GIS knowledge and is very flexible, so as to guarantee a broad applicability. VVF is aimed at assisting public decision-makers and conservation biologists to assess the viability of endangered and threatened species, to evaluate policies and plans for wildlife management, as well as species translocations, reserve design and habitat protection. VVF can also be used in Environmental Impact Assessment. In this paper, VVF is demonstrated with an application for Ibex.     

Fixture knowledge model development and implementation based on a functional design approach

The development of a knowledge model applied to fixture design is a complex task. The main purpose of such model is the development of a knowledge-based application to assist fixture designers. It comprises a detailed specification of the types and structures of data involved in the execution of the inference process needed to create a fixture solution for machining a raw part. A development method together with a knowledge model for automating fixture design is proposed. The development was divided into three parts: Design Process Model, definition of Top-level functional functions and Product Knowledge Model. Adopting a functional design approach, the fixture design solution was created in two levels: functional and detailed. The functional level is based on fixture functional elements and the detailed one is based on fixture commercial elements. The definitions and concepts used in the application are specified in several Units of Knowledge (UoK) that comprises the Fixture Knowledge Model. Common Knowledge Analysis and Design Structuring (CommonKADS), Methodology and software tools Oriented to KBE Applications (MOKA), Integrated DEFinition for Function Modelling (IDEF0) and Unified Modelling Language (UML) are the methodologies and techniques used in the proposed method. Finally, a prototype KBE application for fixture design was developed.     

PRIST-2: a Graphic User Interface based tool for the development of medical software.

A 4th generation tool, called PRIST-2, is presented that has been designed as an interactive environment for the rapid prototyping of clinical applications in a large-scale Hospital Information System project. We adopted an SQL-based commercial Relational Data Base Management Systems (RDBMS) to guarantee portability on different hardware and operating systems. Relational databases, however, are characterized by a simple data structure and do not incorporate the application semantics required to ensure a high degree of data independence. To reach this goal, we propose an extension to the relational model, adding some of the main characteristics of the Object Oriented Data Base Management Systems (OODBMS) approach, such as "types" and "encapsulation".     

Ami: promoting a quantitative approach to software management

In this paper we first review the state of the art in software measurement. We then explain how measurement should be used in a goal-oriented manner in project management and describe the ami (application of metrics in industry) approach to achieving this. Finally we consider the ami project as an example of successful technology transfer and look at the variety of tactics used for dissemination of the approach in response to the needs of today's growing software measurement community.     

The role of project management in ineffective decision making within Agile software development projects

Decision making in traditional software development lies with the project manager. In contrast, Agile software development teams are empowered to make decisions, while the role of project manager has changed from one of command and control (i.e. to make decisions and ensure they are implemented) to one of a facilitator. This article argues that decision making in software development is not characterised by a sequence of isolated or exclusive decisions; rather, decisions are inter-related, with each decision leading to further decisions, the chain of which often spans the entire duration of a project. Over this extended period, there are several potential factors that can negatively affect the efficacy of decision making by Agile teams. One of the findings of this exploratory longitudinal study is that the high level of empowerment of a cohesive software development team undertaking an Agile project may be one of these negative factors, as empowered, cohesive teams can exhibit problems such as groupthink or the Abilene Paradox. This article therefore argues that the role of project manager in Agile development initiatives needs to be reassessed, with project managers taking on the role of devil's advocate in the decision-making process.     

Management of system development knowledge: a cognitive approach

The management of system development knowledge (SDK) is currently sub-optimal regarding the system developer's learning and use of the knowledge due to its inherently complex and cumbersome nature. In this work, we have identified and categorised different approaches to the management of SDK generally having instrumental and technical subject matter. To complement the current literature in this field of study, our approach to the management of SDK has taken into account the system developer's cognitive processing concerns. As such, we have proposed and successfully tested a strategic method for SDK management in a real working situation. In this empirical study, the implementation of an artificial knowledge structure has been shown to be useful as a means of decreasing the system developer's cognitive processing load as regards SDK. The first of two implications is such that cognitive consideration in relation to SDK management has further developmental potential. The second implication is that the system development environment can provide cognitive support to the system developer.     

基于敏捷软件开发方法的基金管理信息系统开发

敏捷软件开发是一种面临迅速变化的需求快速开发出高质量的软件产品软件的新方法。介绍了敏捷软件开发的主要内容,特别是XP和AM,并以一个基金管理信息系统的开发为例,展示了实际应用过程。