Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Ta b l e 1 .
Comparison between different formal representations
Organizational concepts
OperA MOISE PopOrg LAO POMF MACODO Grossi Jonker
Structural Dimension
Roles
Groups
Agents
Relations
Topology
Functional Dimension
Capabilities
Abilities
Services
Objectives
Dynamical Dimension
Interactions
Dynamics
Environment Dimension
Environment
Resources
Normative Dimension
Norms
Syntax
CTL
L
PR
Z
Org
TTL
Semantics
LCR
CTL*
T
PR
Org
them. This specification defines the environment, taken from the Environment Dimen-
sion, and its dynamics, just like the Dynamical Dimension does. The CS does not model
the resources populating the environment or the interactions between agents. Finally, the
N ormative Specification
(NS) defines the rights and duties of roles and groups inside
the organization, which are known as norms in the Normative Dimension. All agents
that have adopted a role from the SS compose the
Organizational Entity
(OE), which
is the element of the system that controls the dynamic elements of the organization,
including agents and all events that they generate, such as their interactions.
In order to manage the structural dynamics of a MAS, PopOrg is a model based on
two basic concepts: the
population
of an organization and its
structure
. The population
of a MAS is its set of agents, as well as the behaviors and actions, which represent the
capabilities and abilities from the Functional Dimension; and the exchange processes
(services from the Functional Dimension) that agents are able to carry out. Therefore,
the population of a PopOrg organization mainly takes concepts from the Functional
Dimension plus agents from the Structural Dimension. Moreover, the structure of the
organization is composed of roles and the links between them, which are elements that
belong to the Structural Dimension. To relate the population and the structure, PopOrg
has a third element called
implementation
that relates roles with agents, and links with
