A system development methodology for knowledge-based systems

Phased linear system-development methodologies inadequately address the problems of knowledge acquisition and engineering. A different approach, detailed and systematic, to building knowledge-based systems is presented, namely a knowledge-based system development life cycle. This specially tailored prototyping methodology replaces traditional phases and stages with 'processes'. Processes are activated, deactivated, and reactivated dynamically as needed during system development, thereby allowing knowledge engineers to iteratively define, develop, refine, and test an evolutionary knowledge/data representation. A case study in which this method was used is presented in which Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina and the Institute of Information Management, Technology, and Policy at the College of Business Administration, University of South Carolina, initiated a joint venture to automate the review process for medical insurance claims. >