1. Computational Organization Theory Aaron Drajpuch WPI, CS525M, Spring 2002 Introduction What is an Organization What is Computational Organization Theory Concepts for Organizational Models Examples –SDML –Swarm References

2. Introduction Organizations differ from Multi-agent systems –Exhibit a collective intelligence –Capabilities distinct from individual members –Influence and are influenced as a whole –Structure emerges Spontaneous Imposed –Agents must be socially/organizationally aware

3. What is an Organization Characteristics –Heterogeneous –Complex –Dynamic –Non-linear –Adaptive –Evolving

4. What is an Organization Characteristics cont. –Comprised of multiple agents –Engaged in one or more tasks –Large scale problem solvers –Goal directed –Able to affect and be affected –Have knowledge, culture, memories, history, and capabilities distinct from any single agent

5. What is an Organization Organizations overcome agent limitations –Cognitive –Physical –Temporal –Institutional

6. What is an Organization Choosing the right organization –Different problems require different designs –Tasks to accomplish –Intelligence and capabilities of agents –Environment –Legal and political considerations –Etc.

7. What is an Organization Engineering perspective: –Find optimal design for given problem Theoretical perspective –Specify general principles and tradeoffs Specialization Division of labor

8. Computational Organization Theory Uses mathematical and computational methods to study organizations Research into fundamental principles to develop better models Develop tools and procedures for validating organizational models Helps to formulate explicit and well defined theories of organizations

9. Computational Organization Theory Formal methods for organizations –Modelability –Performance differential –Manipulability –Designability –Practicality –Pragmatism

10. Organization Concepts Agents Design Tasks Technology

11. SDML Strictly Declarative Modeling Language Suited for flat or hierarchical structures Cognitive theory-neutral –Implement agents represented in other languages Each level in hierarchy is a container –Lowest levels are cognitive agents –Agents combine and move up the hierarchy

12. SDML Organization for Business

13. Each level contains the lower levels Agents could be business processes Business processes could combine and move up the hierarchy –Agents combine to form group business process –Group business processes combine to form department processes –Etc. Groups work in parallel, agents must communicate

14. Swarm Simulation of complex, adaptive systems Uses object oriented libraries Swarm –Collection of agents and other swarms –Schedule of actions –Representation of time Can model different levels of detail

15. Swarm Example Body Organ Germ Cells Tissue Swarm Agent

16. Swarm Implemented with objects Inspired from Artificial Life –Simulates evolution Behavior emerges from the swarm

17. References Kathleen M. Carley and Les Gasser. Computational Organization Theory. Multiagent Systems: A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. The MIT Press, 1999. Marcus Daniels. Integrating Simulation Technologies With Swarm. A paper submitted to the "Agent Simulation: Applications, Models and Tools" conference held at University of Chicago in October of 1999. Nelson Minar, Roger Burkhart, Chris Langton and Manor Askenazi. The Swarm Simulation System: A Toolkit for Building Multi-Agent Simulations. Scott Moss, Helen Gaylard, Steve Wallis and Bruce Edmonds. SDML: A Multi-Agent Language for Organizational Modelling. Centre for Policy Modelling, Manchester Metropolitan University. CPM Report No.: 97- 16, March 1997. Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Prentice Hall, 1995.