Agent-based Modeling and its Applications

Outline

1. The present project team takes agent-based modeling approach to clarify emergent behavior of autonomous decision makers constituting organizations and societies, who interact with each other in a network way. We are particularly interested in investigation of such behavior from management viewpoint including diagnosis, evaluation and design.

1. To accomplish the mission we set the following two research programs.

1. Agent-based modeling of interactions among autonomous decision makers
   
   In this research we will develop and propose innovative models describing interactions among autonomous decision makers in terms of poly-agent systems theory. The target decision situations include hierarchical game, rough reasoning decision-making, hierarchical international negotiation, and alliance formation process. The methodology employed is not restricted to mathematical modeling but includes computer simulation.
   
   
2. Model-based soft systems approach/thinking
   
   This stream discusses methodologies for supporting relevant people involved in problematic decision situations including autonomous agents. The target situations may include unitary, plural and coercive ones, so that we try to elaborate supporting and aiding methods/methodologies for tackling each of them . These methods/methodologies may include:
   
   (For supporting relevant people involved in plural decision situations)
   - Problem structuring methodology
   - Soft systems approach, such as soft systems methodology proposed by Checkland, supported by computer-aided tools like simulation tools. in order to save the time to achieve some accommodation among the stakeholders. In particular, such tools are effective to encourage the participants to expose their own opinions frankly. The emphasis is on achievement of accommodation. We also try to apply the proposed approach to real problematic situations like urban development problems and to examine the validity and effectiveness of it.
   
   (For supporting relevant people involved in coercive decision situations)
   - Postmodern methods such as syntegrity (carnival metaphor (Beer, Espejo)) and critical systems thinking
   - Participatory decision making methodology/process
   Involvement, Collective deliberation, Accommodation, Implementation (Warfield's idea of traceability)