Biru, Tesfaye (PhD)Yimam, Dawir2020-06-012023-11-182020-06-012023-11-181998-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/21377SDI services and systems are most important components of information services. However, they are also widely reported to be resource intensive and time-consuming for both the service providers and users. As a result, despite the immense contribution they are proved to provide, they are rarely implemented in developing countries whose information systems and services are mainly characterized by paucity of resources. In particular, previous studies have repeatedly stated that the creation and maintenance of the user profile is the most problematic component. This thesis research investigated in to the problems of this particular component with the view to apply an advanced Artificial Intelligence techno logy known as interface agents which are a type of software systems generally called agents. To this end, the SDI user profile management problems are analyzed taking a case SDI system known as Aerialists of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa. This has enabled to discover numerous ways in which agent technology could bring about improvements on SDI user profile management. Furthermore, the review of the literature has shown that the technology is already being employed in systems which are similar to, or enhancements of, SDI systems like those commonly known as filtering systems that are developed for Internet resources. Drawing on these findings, an agent-oriented modelling of the user profile management process has been made and some of the basic methods and procedures suggested in this model have been demonstrated by developing a prototype agent. Using this agent, some small scale testing of the performance of the suggested methods have been made taking few test data from ILRIAlerts users. The prototype development and tests have indicated the possibility of employing agent methods to SDI user profile managementenInformation ScienceThesis