Reasoning of Competitive Non-Functional Requirements in Agent-Based Models

During the decision-making process in real-time competitive environments, there is a need to perform concurrent optimisation of multiple competitive objectives to select an optimal design decision for interdependent stakeholders. To handle such issues, this thesis successfully assimilates the goal-oriented requirements-engineering knowledge with analytical decision-making approaches to facilitate reasoning and analysis by encouraging stakeholders’ involvement. This leads to optimal decisions with domain knowledge improvement in the agent-based i*-goal model by balancing multiple conflicting non-functional requirements reciprocally

Reward-Penalty Scheme for Power Distribution Companies

In this research, we propose three Reward-Penalty algorithms, to improve the reliability of power distribution companies. The significance of this research, lies in encouraging power distribution companies, to maintain, or even improve, customer service and satisfaction, by developing the Performance Regulatory Reward-Penalty models. These models are designed to place little administrative burden, on either the regulators, or the power distribution companies, whilst providing valuable information, which will prevent degradation of service reliability

AHP based Optimal Reasoning of Non-functional Requirements in the i∗ Goal Model

Goal-Oriented Requirements Engineering (GORE) has been found to be a valuable tool in the early stages of requirements engineering. GORE plays a vital role in requirements analysis like alternative design/ goal selection during decision-making. The decision-making process of alternative design/ goal selection is performed to assess the practicability and value of alternative approaches towards quality goals. Majority of the GORE models manage alternative selection based on qualitative approach, which is extremely coarse-grained, making it impossible for separating two alternatives. A few works are based on quantitative alternative selection, yet this does not provide a consistent judgement on decision-making. In this paper, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is modified to deal with the evaluation of selecting the alternative strategies of inter-dependent actors of i∗ goal model. The proposed approach calculates the contribution degrees of alternatives to the fulfilment of top softgoals. It is then integrated with the normalized relative priority values of top softgoals. The result of integration helps to evaluate the alternative options based on the requirements problem against each other. To clarify the proposed approach, a simple telemedicine system is considered in this paper

Optimal Reasoning of Opposing Non-functional Requirements based on Game Theory

Goal-Oriented Requirement Engineering is a modeling technique that represents software system requirements using goals as goal models. In a competitive environment, these requirements may have opposing objectives. Therefore, there is a requirement for a goal reasoning method, which offers an alternative design option that achieves the opposing objectives of inter-dependent actors. In this paper, a multi-objective zero-sum game theory-based approach is applied for choosing an optimum strategy for dependent actors in the i* goal model. By integrating Java with IBM CPLEX optimisation tool, a simulation model based on the proposed method was developed. A successful evaluation was performed on case studies from the existing literature. Results indicate that the developed simulation model helps users to choose an optimal design option feasible in real-time competitive environments

On Logistics Management for Prosumer Business Information System Development and Implementation

Managing prosumer businesses is challenging with different types of renewable and non-renewable energy resources. The development and implementation of energy systems pose additional challenges when prosumers pursue sustainable production while simultaneously trying to mitigate gas emissions and energy losses. Issues associated with energy emissions and supply shortfalls must be addressed before developing prosumer business information systems and reaping their benefits. Innovative IS (Information System) solutions are needed to align different energy systems and prosumer coalitions that require cautious implementations. The purpose of the research is to develop IS artefacts, strategizing energy systems, establishing essential logistics requirements for smart-grids to ensure sustainable energy supplies. A conceptual Prosumer Business-based Design Science Information System (PBDSIS) framework is developed, collaborating IS articulations of prosumer business data artefacts in ecologies, where energy production and distribution need crucial logistics support and implementation of IS artefacts. The framework is implemented in prosumer business domain using open-source data

Mixed-strategic Reasoning of the i* Goal Model

Goal-Oriented Requirements Engineering represents the stakeholder objectives using goals for making decisions about the choice of suitable non-functional requirements in view of goal models. In a competitive environment, stakeholders\u27 may have conflicting goals. Therefore, there is a need for a goal analysis method which offers an alternative design option that achieves the conflicting goals of different interdependent actors in a goal model. To address circumstances where there is uncertainty, this paper proposes a game-theory based probabilistic, mixed-strategy approach to choose the best alternative to resolve the conflicting requirements issue. In this paper, a framework is proposed that applies Nash equilibrium based on multiobjective values for selecting an optimum strategy in the i* goal model by considering the opposing goals reciprocally. By integrating Java with IBM ILOG CPLEX, the proposed method was developed and evaluated successfully using different case studies

CEA Based Reasoning with the i∗ Framework

Goal models in requirement engineering represent stakeholder interests and objectives and help in making decisions when choosing suitable functional requirements based on non- functional requirements. In a competitive environment, stakeholders\u27 requirements may be conflicting and non-functional. Therefore, there is a need for a goal analysis method which offers an alternative design option that can accommodate the conflicting goals of the different inter-dependent actors in a goal model. In this paper, an economic evaluation-based approach known as Cost-Effectiveness Analysis is applied to the selection of an optimum strategy for inter-dependent actors in the i* goal model by balancing the opposing goals reciprocally. The proposed approach involves the optimisation of each objective function based on the interdependency relationships and economic evaluation of their optimal values to prioritise each design option. This helps to facilitate the choice of a cost-effective design option that can accommodate conflicting goals

On framework development for the dynamic prosumer coalition in a smart grid and its evaluation by analytic tools

Managing prosumers participation in energy trading becomes complicated, as the number of prosumers in smart grid is expected to rise. In this situation, it is safe to group active prosumers into groups or coalitions. By utilising analytical tools, like game theory, the method for grouping or coalition formation of prosumers can be carefully studied. After analysing prosumers behaviour in energy profile, we propose a novel dynamic, decentralised prosumer coalition formation method based on game theory that can satisfy utility grid demands. A conceptual framework is developed for coalition formation and energy management among prosumers in a dynamic environment. This approach has the potential to increase the size and number of coalitions without a central controller to better manage renewable energy usage and trading with energy buyers. We validate the performance of adopting a game theoretic approach, assessing the strategy using open and shared data sources