SBIR-STTR Award

As a consequence of the under-developed current state of Congnitive Systems Engineering (CSE), the resulting decision support systems (DSSs) are therefore weakened/lessened in terms of effective support to the users. A radical advance in the practicality and efficiency of CSE as an integral component of an overall system development process is an essential breakthrough. This proposal outlines a unique approach to address this problem through the development of an intelligent tools suite to support CSE--aprinciple driven approach to the analysis and design of complex human-machine systems. In Phase I, we will use an integrated, design-centered, process-based approach to the review, systhesis, assessment, and evaluation of CSE methods, tools, and appropriate computer technologies applicable to the general information warfare domain. Having a robust, comprehensive process model framework is critical to the success of the literature review in order to provide an organizing framework for the findings. A successful Phase I effort, based on our integrated, process-based approach to the synthesis and evaluation of current CSE methods and tooks, is expected to provide an excellent framework for: . consolidating the variety of methodological approaches to CSE, . defining a baseline CSE tool suite based on an integrated set of current methods and tools, . highlighting critical gaps and needs in the development of a comprehensive, full life cycle CSE suite.

Keywords:
Cognitive Systems Engineering; Decision Support; Cognitive Task Analysis Information Warfare; Comput

Carnegie Group proposes to develop a Computer-Aided Cognitive Systems Engineering (CACSE) tool that will serve as the integration point between insights gained from an apriori Cognitive Task Analysis and the design artifacts that support the resulting software engineering development activities. This is expected to result in a seamless design database, from fundamental cognitive demands through software design artifacts to the resulting representation of the decision support system (DSS). The focus for this SBIR effort is the development of an integrated, Cognitive Systems Engineering based software/system development process supported end-t-end by computer-aided tools to build highly effective DSSs within information warfare, command and control, and other complex military (as well as commercial) applications. This is designed to increase the maturity level of current approaches to Cognitive Systems Engineering and Cognitive Task Analysis - especially the weak or non-existent coupling of CTA results ot the software development process. Our CACSE tool will support a robust CSE methodology adapted from Rasmussen (1986) and Woods and Hollnagle (1987) that has proven successful in the development and implementation of several revolutionary DSS applications. In addition, it will be sufficiently flexible to incorporate results from multiple, complementary CTA approaches into the design database. Thus, our vision is to develop a software-based tool that simultaneously and seamlessly aids the experienced CTA analyst in the modeling and documentation aspects of the CTA process and the equally experienced software developer during the construction of the resulting DSS.

Keywords:
Case Tool Support Decision Support System Develop Information Warfare Cognitive Task Analysis Cogni