Rasmequan, Suwanna (2001) An approach to computer-based knowledge representation for the business environment using empirical modelling. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The motivation
for the thesis arises from the difficulties
experienced by
business people who are non-programmers with the inflexibilities
of
conventional packages and tools for
model-making. After
a review of
current business software an argument is made for the need for
a new
computing paradigm that would offer more support
for the way that
people actually experience their business activities. The Empirical Mod-
elling
(EM) approach is introduced as a
broad theoretical and practical
paradigm for
computing that can be viewed as a
far-reaching generali-
sation of the spreadsheet concept.
The concepts and principles of
EM
emphasise the experiential pro-
cesses underlying
familiar
abstractions and by
which we come to iden-
tify reliable components in
everyday life
and,
in
particular,
business
activities. The emphasis on experience and on interaction leads to the
new claim that EM
environments offer a
framework for
combining
propositional, experiential and tacit knowledge in
a way that is more
accessible and supportive of cognitive processes than conventional
computer-based modelling. It is proposed that such environments offer
an alternative kind
of
knowledge representation. Turning to the imple-
mentation and
development of systems, the difficulties inherent in
con-
ventional methods are discussed and then the practical aspects of
EM,
and its
potential for
system building,
are outlined.
Finally, a more detailed study
is
made of
Decision Support Systems
and the ways
in
which the EM focus
on experience, and
knowledge
through interaction, can contribute to the representation of qualitative
aspects of
business activities and their use in
a more
human-centred,
but
computer-supported, process of
decision making.
Illustrations of
the practical application of EM
methods to the requirements of a
deci-
sion support environment are given
by
means of extracts from
a num-
ber of existing EM
models.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Businesspeople , Computer systems -- Design, Systems software -- Design
Official Date:	November 2001
Dates:	Date Event November 2001 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Computer Science
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Russ, Steve
Sponsors:	Thailand
Extent:	xi, 236 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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