DECISION-SUPPORT FOR MESSY PROBLEMS

Problems that are non-quantitative and not bound to a narrow knowledge domain have been served unsatisfactorily by decision support and expe rt systems. Alternative techniques that address this type of problem a re explained here using two key concepts: problem type dependent proce ss support and domain related knowledge. Process support refers to the program steps and the data items useful in finding the solution. Doma in related knowledge is knowledge drawn from a specific domain, yet th rough abstraction applicable to a wider range of problems. Results of preliminary empirical analyses suggest that both concepts are useful.