Conceptual Model-Based Reasoning for Knowledge-Based Software Project Management

This paper presents a conceptual model for software project management and the power derived from using a conceptual model-based reasoning approach in building intelligent decision-support systems. The Software Project Manager (SPM) has been prototyped in Inference Corporation\u27s Automated Reasoning Tool (ART) on Symbolics artificial intelligence (Al) workstations. This prototype conceptual model is an outgrowth of research con- ducted under the Knowledge-Based Software Project Management project at Lockheed Software Technology Center in Austin, Texas. In this paper, we present an overview of the management model underlying SPM and define the essential concepts and relationships needed to model the project management domain. We then describe the knowledge representation strategy used to implement this conceptual model. Finally, we illustrate the power of using conceptual model-based reasoning in building intelligent decision-support systems for the project management domain