Design and validation of fuzzy expert system proposing the most appropriate knowledge acquisition technique (Case study: an Armed Forces organization)

This research is an applied research in the field of organizational knowledge management and its main goal is to improve the process of knowledge acquisition in the studied organization. For this purpose, a fuzzy expert system has been designed to suggest the most suitable knowledge acquisition technique and after validation, it has been implemented and used in two departments of this organization.

This research is a descriptive research in terms of method. The knowledge required to design an expert system includes theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge.The theoretical support of the research was prepared by the method of library studies and the review of scientific sources, but the required practical knowledge was obtained by the questionnaire tool and by the field method. Fuzzy Delphi method was used to determine system inputs and T- Student method was used to determine system outputs. Data analysis was also done with SPSS and Excel software. Finally, Fuzzy toolbox of MATLAB software was used to design and test the system, and for validation, the system error rate was calculated.

The findings of the research include determining 9 knowledge acquisition techniques that can be used in the organization, as system output, determining 7 factors influencing the selection of knowledge acquisition technique as system input, explaining 184 fuzzy rules to form the required knowledge base and in Finally, the design of the fuzzy expert system suggests the appropriate technique of knowledge acquisition.

The designed system was implemented in two subsets of the studied organization (a educational center and a research center). In the educational center, the "concept map" technique and in the research center, the "round table" technique was suggested by the system as the most appropriate technique.