The innovation investigated and prototyped in this project is an intelligent expert assistant, a knowledge-based system to provide active guidance for developers and project managers in selecting and following a suitable method for software development projects. This computer support will enable the navy to develop (on its own or through contractors) software of higher quality and reliability, less dependent on (limited) background and experience of the individual developer and contractor. The phase ii project effort will build on the draft concepts developed and proven feasible in phase i. Specifically, it will refine and develop a working prototype of the expert assistant, including in-depth method guidance of structured analysis with real-time extensions (sa/rt). The case environment used for passive support will be queried and controlled by the expert assistant, avoiding error-prone inquiries from the user about project status and project history, and assisting the developer in performing the next development step. The expert support for selection of a suitable method has already been successfully pre-prototyped in phase i using an expert system shell as implementation base. Refinement by specifically using problem domain-oriented and project-specific knowledge will yield additional solid advice in suitable method selection. Completion of the proposed phase ii activities will result in an innovative prototype for cost-effective active method selection and guidance to achieve higher quality software
