Critical success factors in expert system development
D. Millett, Philip L. Powell · 1996
After a flurry of early activity stemming from high expectations, organisations involved in building expert systems are becoming more reticent to invest.Part of this reticence stems from an inability or unwillingness to evaluate current systems.This paper presents an exploratory study in identi@ing measures for evaluating the success of expert systems in one organisation.The organisation is keen to compare its outcomes with those of others building exTert systems.So, for purposes of comparison, measures derived for the organisation are applied to a sample of other organisations all previously classed as successful users of expert systems.This research emphasises that successful development of expert systems is problematic.Analysis indicates that critical success factors include; the type of application, importance of the system to business strategy and an early, key, successful development.Also of benefit is a champion and the existence of an information technology strategy.Organisational culture may also have an effect.Similarly, factors contributing to failure include poor project control, instieient resources for maintenance, and financial constraints.experiences of one organisation in relation to examined.