A critical look at expert systems for business information applications

Abstract

This paper argues that, contrary to the expectations of researchers, academics and practitioners, current expert systems (ES) for business information and decision making applications arc actually quite primitive and fall disturbingly short of claims of intelligence. The focus of the article is a discussion of the problems with expert systems and a realistic assessment of the narrow spectrum of ES successes. The problems seriously detract from the prospects of expert systems as practical enhancements to most present-day business information systems.