Representing and Reasoning With Design Records for Evolutionary Systems

摘要

In the context of evolving missions and radical changes in the strategic and operational environments in the DoD, the ability to understand the rationale behind key decisions and evaluate the repercussions of changes in underlying assumptions and requirements will be very valuable to key decision makers. In this research we propose to develop models and mechanisms necessary to provide comprehensive Design Records (DR) that help understand, evaluate and reuse critical decisions in complex problem solving situations such as the specification and development of C4I systems. Based on theoretical and empirical studies, model(s) to represent critical components of the rationale behind critical decisions have been developed. Mechanisms designed to support the needs of various stakeholders involved in the decision making process are discussed. A prototype decision support system that incorporates these models and mechanisms to support the capture and use of design records is discussed with examples drawn from the context of the design of information products. Additional examples drawn from various system development scenarios are also discussed in Appendix I.