Verification and Validation of Case-Based Prequalification System

Abstract

The current practice of contractor prequalification is characterized by the reliance on expert judgment and experiential knowledge. Previous studies have identified that the information concerning contractors' attributes consists of both quantitative and qualitative types, while the assessment methods used for appraising qualitative information require a predictive judgment of the experts. Aiming to improve the reliability and fairness of the prequalification decisions, a prototype decision support system based on the case-based reasoning (CBR) approach was developed by the writers. To determine whether CBR approach is appropriate for modeling the contractor prequalification domain, the decision system developed should be verified and validated. The objectives of this paper are to establish a strategy for verifying and validating a CBR system and to report the findings of verification and validation of the prototype system.