Requirements Specification and Model-based Knowledge Engineering

Knowledge Engineering (KE) and Software Engineering (SE) have similar goals: developing methods, techniques, and tools for the building process of either knowledge based systems (kbs) or (complex) traditional software. Due to this kinship it seems obvious to analyse to which extent both areas, KE and SE, can benefit from each other. In this paper we want to argue from the KE point of view. The main paradigm in KE has switched from a transfer point of view to a modeling point of view. So a lot of emphasis has been put on the development of notions and methods for building and structuring models, which capture different results of the development process. Much effort has been investigated into the analysis and development of reusable components: problem solving methods describing the dynamic behaviour of kbs and ontologies defining the vocabulary and structure of (domain) models. We describe specific approaches in KE in some detail which exploit these ideas in different ways: Role-Limiting Methods, KADS and MIKE. Finally Life Cycle Models, Non Functional Requirements and Transformational Development are discussed as areas where we think KE might profit from research and experiences made in SE.