Organisational Change: Deliberation and Modification

Applied Intelligence, 2007

In this paper a modelling approach to the dynamics within a multi-agent organisation is presented. A declarative, executable specification language for dynamics within an organisation is proposed as a basis for simulation. Moreover, to be able to specify and analyse dynamic properties within an organisation, another declarative specification language is put forward, which is much more expressive than the executable language for simulations. Supporting tools have been implemented that consist of a software environment for simulation of organisation models and a software environment for analysis of dynamic properties against traces of dynamics within an organisation.

Knowledge-Based …, 2004

Electronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science, 2010

We propose a formal framework that supports a model of agent-based Virtual Organisations (VOs) for service grids and provides an associated operational model for the creation of VOs. The framework is intended to be used for describing different service grid applications based on multiple agents and, as a result, it abstracts away from any realisation choices of the service grid application, the agents involved to support the applications and their interactions. Within the proposed framework VOs are seen as emerging from societies of agents, where agents are abstractly characterised by goals and roles they can play within VOs. In turn, VOs are abstractly characterised by the agents participating in them with specific roles, as well as the workflow of services and corresponding contracts suitable for achieving the goals of the participating agents. We illustrate the proposed framework with an earth observation scenario.

… Organizations, Institutions, and …, 2006

Knowledge-Based …, 2004

Accounting, Management and Information Technologies, 1995

econstor www.econstor.eu Der Open-Access-Publikationsserver der ZBW -Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft The Open Access Publication Server of the ZBW -Leibniz Information Centre for Economics Nutzungsbedingungen: Die ZBW räumt Ihnen als Nutzerin/Nutzer das unentgeltliche, räumlich unbeschränkte und zeitlich auf die Dauer des Schutzrechts beschränkte einfache Recht ein, das ausgewählte Werk im Rahmen der unter → http://www.econstor.eu/dspace/Nutzungsbedingungen nachzulesenden vollständigen Nutzungsbedingungen zu vervielfältigen, mit denen die Nutzerin/der Nutzer sich durch die erste Nutzung einverstanden erklärt.

The purpose of this paper is to present the applicability of THOMAS, an architecture specially designed to model agent-based virtual organizations, in the development of a multiagent system for managing and planning routes for clients in a mall. In order to build virtual organizations, THOMAS offers mechanisms to take into account their structure, behaviour, dynamic, norms and environment. Moreover, one of the primary characteristics of the THOMAS architecture is the use of agents with reasoning and planning capabilities. These agents can perform a dynamic reorganization when they detect changes in the environment. The proposed architecture is composed of a set of related modules that are appropriate for developing systems in highly volatile environments similar to the one presented in this study. This paper presents THOMAS as well as the results obtained after having applied the system to a case study.

Adaptation and Value Creating …, 2011

Organisations have to adapt rapidly to survive in today's diverse and rapidly changing environments. The idea of virtual organisations emerged as an answer. There is a strong need to understand virtual organisations (VOs) in a formal way: changes can have side effects and hence one might wish to understand precisely what consequences a change might have. The Virtual Organisation Modelling Language (VOML) consists of sub-languages to model different aspects of VOs such as their structure or operational models: VO-S deals with structural aspects while VO-R addresses reconfigurations. The concepts are exemplified through a travel booking VO that needs to cope with extra demands imposed by a large event such as the Olympic games.

Hierarchical structures have been widely used by human organizations because they provide the natural means to delegate tasks, to reduce communication lines and to control the activities performed into them. This has motivated the development of different approaches to automate many of the activities that take place in hierarchical organizations. Recent frameworks, such as Gaia, Aalaadin, HarmonIA and OperA, among others, have considered the agent paradigm to do so without taking into account that organizations are dynamic entities that evolve with the time and, consequently, agents must adapt to changes. Here we develop a model for flexible and open hierarchical organizations where agents can dynamically adapt themselves to organizational changes.

2016

We propose a formal framework that supports a model of agent-based Virtual Organisations (VOs) for service grids and provides an associated operational model for the creation of VOs. The framework is intended to be used for describing different service grid applications based on multiple agents and, as a result, it abstracts away from any realisation choices of the service grid application, the agents involved to support the applications and their interactions. Within the proposed framework VOs are seen as emerging from societies of agents, where agents are abstractly characterised by goals and roles they can play within VOs. In turn, VOs are abstractly characterised by the agents participating in them with specific roles, as well as the workflow of services and corresponding contracts suitable for achieving the goals of the participating agents. We illustrate the proposed framework with an earth observation scenario. 1