MODFORM: A Knowledge-Based Tool to Support the Modeling Process

The value of mathematical modeling and analysis in the decision support context is well recognized. However, the complex and evolutionary nature of the modeling process has limited its widespread use. In this paper, we describe our work on knowledge-based tools which support the formulation and revision of mathematical programming models. In contrast to previous work on this topic, we base our work on an indepth empirical investigation of experienced modelers and present three results: a a model of the modeling process of experienced modelers derived using concurrent verbal protocol analysis. Our analysis indicates that modeling is a synthetic process that relates specific features found in the problem to its mathematical model. These relationships, which are seldom articulated by modelers, are also used to revise models. b an implementation of a modeling support system called MODFORM based on this observationally derived model, and c the results of a preliminary experiment which indicates that users of MODFORM build models comparable to those formulated by experts. We use the formulation of mathematical programming models of production planning problems illustratively throughout the paper.

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