Remco Straatman

The essence of problem-solving methods

In this paper, we present the following view on problem-solving methods for knowledge-based systems: problem-solving methods describe anefficient reasoning strategyfor achieving a goal by introducingassumptionsabout the available domain knowledge and the required functionality. Assumptions, dynamic reasoning behaviour and functionality are the three elements necessary to characterize a problem-solving method. In this paper, we elaborate this argument and introduce a framework for characterizing and developing such efficient problem solvers.

Problem-Solving Methods: Making Assumptions for Effeciency Reasons

In this paper we present the following view on problem-solving methods for knowledge-based systems: Problem-solving methods describe an efficient reasoning strategy to achieve a goal by introducing assumptions about the available domain knowledge and the required functionality. Assumptions, dynamic reasoning behavior, and functionality are the three elements necessary to characterize a problem-solving method.

Problem Solving for Redesign

A knowledge-level analysis of complex tasks like diagnosis and design can give us a better understanding of these tasks in terms of the goals they aim to achieve and the different ways to achieve these goals. In this paper we present a knowledge-level analysis of redesign. Redesign is viewed as a family of methods based on some common principles, and a number of dimensions along which redesign problem solving methods can vary are distinguished. By examining the problem-solving behavior of a number of existing redesign systems and approaches, we came up with a collection of problem-solving methods for redesign and developed a task-method structure for redesign.

A Purpose Driven Method for Language Comparison

Current efforts to compare knowledge engineering (KE) modelling languages have been limited to either rather shallow comparisons on a broad-set of languages, or to detailed comparisons with limited applicability to a narrow set of languages. In this paper we propose a novel way of organising language comparisons. This method is based on an alternating decomposition of the goals that a language tries to achieve and the linguistic methods it employs to achieve these goals. This new method for comparing languages allows a general comparison at high levels of abstraction, while not preventing more precise comparisons whenever possible. One result of our comparison method is an insight in the different assumptions that underly the languages to be compared. Two further consequences follow from the proposed comparison method, namely (i) a measure for the degree of similarity between languages, and (ii) a method for translating between languages. After describing our method, we apply it to a pair of KE modelling languages, and show how it yields insights in the assumptions underlying the languages and how it can be used to produce a translation procedure between the languages.

KIDS for KADS

In order to give more support in the construction, adaptation, and use of problem-solving methods (PSM) an explicit representation of the relevant aspects of a PSM is necessary. In [4] we propose such a framework, based on the kads [5] methodology. kids [7], a transformational software development system, is based on a representation similar to our proposed framework. In this paper we investigate to what extent KIDS can be used as a basis for representations and tools for PSM development.