Knowledge Representation Concepts for Automated SLA Management

Outsourcing of complex IT infrastructure to IT service providers has increased substantially during the past years. IT service providers must be able to fulfil their service-quality commitments based upon predefined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the service customer. They need to manage, execute and maintain thousands of SLAs for different customers and different types of services, which needs new levels of flexibility and automation not available with the current technology. The complexity of contractual logic in SLAs requires new forms of knowledge representation to automatically draw inferences and execute contractual agreements. A logic-based approach provides several advantages including automated rule chaining allowing for compact knowledge representation as well as flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing business requirements. We suggest adequate logical formalisms for representation and enforcement of SLA rules and describe a proof-of-concept implementation. The article describes selected formalisms of the ContractLog KR and their adequacy for automated SLA management and presents results of experiments to demonstrate flexibility and scalability of the approach.Comment: Paschke, A. and Bichler, M.: Knowledge Representation Concepts for Automated SLA Management, Int. Journal of Decision Support Systems (DSS), submitted 19th March 200

Signals that make a Difference

Recent work by Brian Skyrms offers a very general way to think about how information flows and evolves in biological networks—from the way monkeys in a troop communicate, to the way cells in a body coordinate their actions. A central feature of his account is a way to formally measure the quantity of information contained in the signals in these networks. In this paper, we argue there is a tension between how Skyrms talks of signaling networks and his formal measure of information. Although Skyrms refers to both how information flows through networks and that signals carry information, we show that his formal measure only captures the latter. We then suggest that to capture the notion of flow in signalling networks, we need to treat them as causal networks. This provides the formal tools to define a measure that does capture flow, and we do so by drawing on recent work defining causal specificity. Finally, we suggest that this new measure is crucial if we wish to explain how evolution creates information. For signals to play a role in explaining their own origins and stability, they can’t just carry information about acts; they must be difference-makers for acts

PROBLEM MODELOWANIA POWSTAWANIA KOALICJI

The paper deals with the problem of modelling of coalition formation. Petri Nets were suggested as they offer a simple way to graphically represent the coalition formation procedure, they allow to easily make changes in modelling procedure and there are many high-quality modelling tools. The authors do not provide complete modelling procedure, but only show that Petri Nets is a very effective tool for determining and parameter estimation of possible coalitions. An example is considered as well as conclusions about application of Petri Nets for modelling of coalition formation.Artykuł dotyczy problemu modelowania procesu powstawania koalicji. Jako rozwiązanie zaproponowano sieci Petriego, ponieważ zapewniają prosty sposób graficznej reprezentacji procedury tworzenia koalicji, pozwalają na łatwe wprowadzanie zmian w procedurze modelowania i wiele wysokiej jakości narzędzi do modelowania. Autorzy nie opisują pełnej procedury modelowania, lecz wykazują, że sieci Petriego są bardzo skutecznym narzędziem do określania i szacowania parametrów możliwych koalicji. Przedstawiono przykład, oraz wnioski dotyczące stosowania sieci Petriego do modelowania powstawania koalicji

The design co-ordination framework : key elements for effective product development

This paper proposes a Design Co-ordination Framework (DCF) i.e. a concept for an ideal DC system with the abilities to support co-ordination of various complex aspects of product development. A set of frames, modelling key elements of co-ordination, which reflect the states of design, plans, organisation, allocations, tasks etc. during the design process, has been identified. Each frame is explained and the co-ordination, i.e. the management of the links between these frames, is presented, based upon characteristic DC situations in industry. It is concluded that while the DCF provides a basis for our research efforts into enhancing the product development process there is still considerable work and development required before it can adequately reflect and support Design Co-ordination

Fuzzy alliance and coalitions that can be formed by alliance agents

The paper deals with alliances and coalitions that can be formed by the agents or entities. Alliance agents are assumed to cooperate and form coalitions for performing the tasks or missions. It is considered that alliance agents are unselfish. That is, they are more interested in achieving the common goal(s) than in getting personal benefits. In the paper, the concept of fuzzy alliance was introduced. A fuzzy alliance is considered as a generalization of a traditional alliance allowing agents to decide on the capabilities that their agents can and want to deliver to the coalition. Coalitions that fuzzy alliance agents can form were considered. The definition of the “best” coalition was explained. The method of how to find the “best” coalition among all possible coalitions was suggested and verified by computer simulation

The Need for Revised Resolution Regimes and Supervisory Arrangements

In October 2010, having drawn crucial lessons fom the Financial Crisis which was triggered in 2007, and whose impact was still evident at the time, the Financial Stability Board Recommendations on systemically important financial institutions „called for an assessment, on the basis of the BCBS Recommendations and the draft FSB Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes (FSB Key Attributes), of national authorities’ capacity to resolve SIFIs under existing resolution regimes and of the legislative and other changes to national resolution regimes and policies needed to accomplish effective resolution.“ As well as attempting to highlight why much greater initiatives and efforts are required in relation to exit mechanisms for failing banks – that is, greater initiatives and efforts than prudential aspects of regulation which embrace capital adequacy procedures, this paper also draws attention to vital steps that could be taken at international level to make cross-border resolutions more effective

Formalizing the Shadow Economy in Serbia: Policy Measures and Growth Effects

Economic Policy; Public Economics; Economic Growth; Econometrics; Development Economics; Macroeconomics/Monetary Economics//Financial Economic