Ontology Works has developed an ontology acquisition methodology that helps to increase both the computational efficiency and the inferential capabilities of the HPKS. This methodology includes:

1. Bounding the domain to be modeled by letting the ontology development be data-driven, or problem-driven;
2. Thoroughly researching the domain to be modeled, and specifying, to a high degree the intended semantics of each entity in the ontology. This means emphasizing relations and rules at least as much, if not more, than taxonomic structure, which provides very little in the way of semantics;
3. Performing a thorough, formal ontological analysis of each entity to be included in the ontology. The result of this analysis is an internally consistent, cohesive ontology;
4. Formalizing the ontology in a rich, expressive language, Common Logic, that, in addition to providing taxonomic structure, accommodates relations of any arity; first order and second order quantification; and the possibility of modal operators; and
5. Thoroughly testing and validating new ontological content. As part of the ontology development process, ontologists at Ontology Works develop test queries designed to challenge query performance in the HPKS. Tests are run regularly to ensure that the HPKS continues to perform as desired even as new data are received and as new ontological content is added or existing content is altered, thus ensuring that the ontology is both maintainable and extensible.