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Decision Support and Knowledge-based Systems (MIS 538)

Decision Support and Knowledge-based Systems (MIS 538) Overview: This course is designed to explore the development and application of knowledge-based systems in managerial settings. A knowledge-based system is a computer system that captures the reasoning by experts about a particular domain of knowledge such as medicine, human resources, engineering, marketing, or finance. Knowledge-based systems are being used in Fortune 500 companies and already have had an impact on the workplace. Examples include systems that help evaluate employee performance, underwrite insurance, provide technical advice to customer service representatives, diagnose mechanical breakdowns, and perform manufacturing inspection. This course is designed for management and information science students, although it may be of interest to engineering students who want to understand the management issues associated with knowledge-based systems technologies. Students taking the course will learn about the logic behind knowledge-based systems and actually design their own system. To understand how knowledge-based systems are implemented in the "real world," we will review various methods for designing knowledge-based systems and case examples that highlight the unique problems posed by these systems to business organizations. More to the point, we will build knowledge-based systems in a functional area of your choice. No prior programming experience is required to take the course. You can expect to increase your skills in design, problem solving, and logic. High quality final papers will be considered for joint publication.