DEPENDENCY BASED COORDINATION FOR CONSISTENT SOLUTIONS IN DISTRIBUTED WORK

Many organizational problems can be decomposed into nearly independent subproblems the solution of which is the responsibility of independent agents. In this kind of work, which we call distributed work, the problems are only nearly independent since dependencies exist between the commitments required from each agent. As a consequence of these dependencies, the coordination problem becomes one of maintaining a consistent global solution in the face of the possibly conflicting activities of each agent. We define a normative model for coordination protocols that indicates the formal requirements for maintaining a globally consistent solution. The model identifies several properties that the protocol must enforce, namely serializability, atomicity, completeness, and soundness. We show that these properties are desirable in coordination protocols for distributed work problems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

MULTIPLE AGENT FORMALISMS FOR COORDINATION IN ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS

Many organizational problems are ill-structured where the structure of a problem is not apparent at the outset of the problem solving process. Agents responsible for these problems often decompose them into subproblems the solution of which is the responsibility of other agents. These problems are only nearly independent in the sense that temporal and technical dependencies exist between the different subproblems. Since the problems are interdependent, coordinating the activities of the different agents is important for ensuring that the partial solutions discovered by these different agents are not conflicting in terms of global consistency. Usual mechanisms for coordination include communication and negotiation between agents of interrelated problems. In this paper we describe a formalism for coordination in multiple agent ill-structured problems based on four properties of tasks, atomicity, serializability, completeness and soundness. We examine how these properties are essential for handling conflict resolution. We also outline some requirements for control.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

AN EXTENDED ATMS FOR DECOMPOSABLE PROBLEMS

When dealing with nearly decomposable problems such as those described by Simon (1973), the problem components may be worked on by different problem solvers that are spatially and temporally separated, with each problem solver constrained by assumptions it makes about the activities and choices of other problem solvers, that is by partial knowledge of the global problem. There are advantages to maintaining multiple solutions locally for as long as possible, even though a single final solution is desired. When it becomes less desirable to retract certain assumptions, these become constraints for other problem solvers and can be communicated to them via a truth maintenance system. We describe an extended architecture for an ATMS for these kinds of decomposable problemsInformation Systems Working Papers Serie

AN EXTENDED ATMS FOR DECOMPOSABLE PROBLEMS

When dealing with nearly decomposable problems such as those described by Simon (1973), the problem components may be worked on by different problem solvers that are spatially and temporally separated, with each problem solver constrained by assumptions it makes about the activities and choices of other problem solvers, that is by partial knowledge of the global problem. There are advantages to maintaining multiple solutions locally for as long as possible, even though a single final solution is desired. When it becomes less desirable to retract certain assumptions, these become constraints for other problem solvers and can be communicated to them via a truth maintenance system. We describe an extended architecture for an ATMS for these kinds of decomposable problemsInformation Systems Working Papers Serie

MULTIPLE AGENT FORMALISMS FOR COORDINATION IN ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS

Many organizational problems are ill-structured where the structure of a problem is not apparent at the outset of the problem solving process. Agents responsible for these problems often decompose them into subproblems the solution of which is the responsibility of other agents. These problems are only nearly independent in the sense that temporal and technical dependencies exist between the different subproblems. Since the problems are interdependent, coordinating the activities of the different agents is important for ensuring that the partial solutions discovered by these different agents are not conflicting in terms of global consistency. Usual mechanisms for coordination include communication and negotiation between agents of interrelated problems. In this paper we describe a formalism for coordination in multiple agent ill-structured problems based on four properties of tasks, atomicity, serializability, completeness and soundness. We examine how these properties are essential for handling conflict resolution. We also outline some requirements for control.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

DEPENDENCY BASED COORDINATION FOR CONSISTENT SOLUTIONS IN DISTRIBUTED WORK

Many organizational problems can be decomposed into nearly independent subproblems the solution of which is the responsibility of independent agents. In this kind of work, which we call distributed work, the problems are only nearly independent since dependencies exist between the commitments required from each agent. As a consequence of these dependencies, the coordination problem becomes one of maintaining a consistent global solution in the face of the possibly conflicting activities of each agent. We define a normative model for coordination protocols that indicates the formal requirements for maintaining a globally consistent solution. The model identifies several properties that the protocol must enforce, namely serializability, atomicity, completeness, and soundness. We show that these properties are desirable in coordination protocols for distributed work problems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

HYPER MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In this paper we study the integration of Model Management and Hypertext systems to produce a Hyper Model Management System (HMMS). Model Management Systems constitute a class of software that is designed to support the construction, storage, retrieval, and use of models in the context of decision support systems (DSS). Hypertext systems allow users to split information into data fragments which the user cart browse to find information by taking non-linear paths in computer based texts. It has been suggested that DSSs should be conceived as environments which support decision making. We support the view that such environments can be readily provided for the subtask of model management by hypertext systems. The different kinds of model knowledge can be captured within different types of hypertext nodes and the relationships among these can be maintained by hypertext links. In this paper we describe some aspects of model management where hypertext will have a significant impact. However, plain hypertext is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic nature of information in model management tasks where data is revised, models executed, and reports are created on the fly. Dynamic domains require dynamic hypertexts. In this paper we also study the requirements for dynamic hypertexts. These can be satisfied within the class of generalized hypertext systems by using special hypertext nodes and links which we describe. We explore different architectures to integrate MMS and Hypertext systems to obtain HMMSs. This paper emphasizes the need for a shift to integrating Model Management and hypertext technologies.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

HYPER MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In this paper we study the integration of Model Management and Hypertext systems to produce a Hyper Model Management System (HMMS). Model Management Systems constitute a class of software that is designed to support the construction, storage, retrieval, and use of models in the context of decision support systems (DSS). Hypertext systems allow users to split information into data fragments which the user can browse to find information by taking non-linear paths in computer based texts. It has been suggested that DSSs should be conceived as environments which support decision making. We support the view that such environments can be readily provided for the subtask of model management by hypertext systems. The different kinds of model knowledge can be captured within different types of nodes and the relationships among these can be maintained by hypertext links. In this paper we describe some aspects of model management where hypertext will have a significant impact. However, plain hypertext is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic nature of information in model management tasks where data is revised, models executed, and reports are created on the fly. Dynamic domains require dynamic hypertexts. In this paper we also study the requirements for dynamic hypertexts. These can be satisfied within the class of generalized hypertext systems by using special hypertext nodes and links which we describe. We explore different architectures to integrate MMS and Hypertext systems to obtain HMMSs. This paper emphasizes the need for a shift to integrated Model Management environments and proposes hypertext as an integrating technology.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

HYPER MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In this paper we study the integration of Model Management and Hypertext systems to produce a Hyper Model Management System (HMMS). Model Management Systems constitute a class of software that is designed to support the construction, storage, retrieval, and use of models in the context of decision support systems (DSS). Hypertext systems allow users to split information into data fragments which the user cart browse to find information by taking non-linear paths in computer based texts. It has been suggested that DSSs should be conceived as environments which support decision making. We support the view that such environments can be readily provided for the subtask of model management by hypertext systems. The different kinds of model knowledge can be captured within different types of hypertext nodes and the relationships among these can be maintained by hypertext links. In this paper we describe some aspects of model management where hypertext will have a significant impact. However, plain hypertext is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic nature of information in model management tasks where data is revised, models executed, and reports are created on the fly. Dynamic domains require dynamic hypertexts. In this paper we also study the requirements for dynamic hypertexts. These can be satisfied within the class of generalized hypertext systems by using special hypertext nodes and links which we describe. We explore different architectures to integrate MMS and Hypertext systems to obtain HMMSs. This paper emphasizes the need for a shift to integrating Model Management and hypertext technologies.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

HYPER MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

In this paper we study the integration of Model Management and Hypertext systems to produce a Hyper Model Management System (HMMS). Model Management Systems constitute a class of software that is designed to support the construction, storage, retrieval, and use of models in the context of decision support systems (DSS). Hypertext systems allow users to split information into data fragments which the user can browse to find information by taking non-linear paths in computer based texts. It has been suggested that DSSs should be conceived as environments which support decision making. We support the view that such environments can be readily provided for the subtask of model management by hypertext systems. The different kinds of model knowledge can be captured within different types of nodes and the relationships among these can be maintained by hypertext links. In this paper we describe some aspects of model management where hypertext will have a significant impact. However, plain hypertext is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic nature of information in model management tasks where data is revised, models executed, and reports are created on the fly. Dynamic domains require dynamic hypertexts. In this paper we also study the requirements for dynamic hypertexts. These can be satisfied within the class of generalized hypertext systems by using special hypertext nodes and links which we describe. We explore different architectures to integrate MMS and Hypertext systems to obtain HMMSs. This paper emphasizes the need for a shift to integrated Model Management environments and proposes hypertext as an integrating technology.Information Systems Working Papers Serie