An Intelligent Manual for Price Analysis

Abstract : We investigated price analysis as performed in the United States Air Force (USAF) and the environment in which buyers at bases make decisions about procurement actions. Based on this study, we evaluated the intelligent manual approach for guiding a buyer through the decisions and actions necessary to conclude a buy. An intelligent manual is a computer-based consultant that provides advice and pointers on the use of existing information in response to user queries. Our prototype intelligent manual is constructed as part of the ZOG system. ZOG is an active, large-network, menu-selection system. We present the design of the interactive intelligent manual (based on our analysis of pricing) and discuss its short-term and long-term implications for procurement in the USAF. We identify how this system would be the basis for future intelligent, problem-solving expert systems that automate significant components of the pricing task.