Understanding expert systems applications from a knowledge transfer perspective

Abstract

Expert systems (ESs) were introduced more than two decades ago, but their effectiveness and success are still in debate. This paper attempts to make a contribution to the better understanding of ES applications from a knowledge transfer perspective. This paper argues that an ES application is knowledge transfer that uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Underpinned by knowledge transfer theories and through a series of empirical investigations of ES projects in agriculture, this study recognises the importance of human interactions in the ESs implementation process. Based on the evidence collected, a number of key players are examined. They are knowledge provider/sender, knowledge engineer, knowledge extensionist and knowledge recipient. This paper represents a first attempt to acknowledge the role of a knowledge extensionist in the ICT-based knowledge transfer process. The name ‘extensionist’ is borrowed from earlier literature and describes an actor whose role is an intermediary in supporting transferring knowledge towards the knowledge user. Findings demonstrate the significant contributions made by extensionists towards the success of ESs applications. It is argued that the rigidity and limitations of ESs in ICT-based knowledge transfer can be significantly reduced with the involvement of close human interactions with the knowledge recipient.

Keywords:

• knowledge extensionist
• expert system
• knowledge transfer
• agriculture
• China

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Weizhe Feng

About the authors

Weizhe Feng is an associate professor of Management at International College, China Agricultural University. His current research interests include: ICT based knowledge transfer in the agriculture sector, e-learning in rural development, agriculture expert systems. He has published more than 10 papers in peer-reviewed international conferences and journals.

Yanqing Duan

Yanqing Duan, Ph.D., is a professor of Information Systems and Director of Business and Management Research Institute, at the University of Bedfordshire Business School. Her principal research interest is how the emerging ICT can be effectively used in, and their impact on, supporting decision making, facilitating knowledge transfer and improving skills development. She has co-ordinated many research projects funded by the European Commission and published over 100 refereed papers in journals, books and international conference proceedings.

Zetian Fu

Zetian Fu is a professor of Information Science at College of Information and Electronic Engineering, China Agricultural University. He has research interests in the application of ICT in agriculture sustainable rural development. He has led over 30 research projects funded by national and international government and organisations. Projects achievement has been highly recognised by academic organisations and governments at different levels. He has eight books and over 100 research papers published in national and international journals and conferences proceedings.

Brian Mathews

Brian Mathews, B.Tech, MBA, Ph.D., is a professor of Marketing and Head of Department of Marketing at the University of Bedfordshire Business School. His research career has spanned more than a quarter of a century and in that time he has published more than 130 research papers and journal papers in both leading academic journals (e.g. Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Research in Marketing) and those with a greater practitioner focus (e.g. the TQM Magazine). His early research focused on sales forecasting but developed into more interdisciplinary areas, including issues of service quality and SME internationalisation and more recently applications of knowledge management.