The Fraunhofer IESE Experience Management System

Experience Management (EM) is an area that is increasingly gaining importance. Its roots lie in Experimental Software Engineering ("Experience Factory"), in Artificial Intelligence ("Case-Based Reasoning"), and in Knowledge Management. EM is comprised of the dimensions methodology, technical realization, organization, and management. It includes techniques, methods, and tools for identifying, collecting, documenting, packaging, storing, generalizing, reusing, adapting, and evaluating experience, as well as for development, improvement, and execution of all knowledge-related processes. The main difference between experience and more general knowledge is the fact that normally, a (more or less) continuous "stream of knowledge" must be processed. Within this contribution, we present the Fraunhofer IESE Experience Factory as a practical example for an experience management system, which is in operation for more than two years.