Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
∈
Nisdefinedasn
=
D
,
CO
,
AC
,
EX
,
SA
,
RE
Definition 6
.
A norm n
where:
-
D
=
is the deontic operator, i.e. obligations (O) and prohibitions (F) that
impose restrictions on the behavior of the agents.
-
CO is a logical formula that represents the action that must be carried out in case
of obligations, or has to be avoided in case of prohibitions.
-
AC, EX are well-formed formulas that determine the conditions of norm activation
and expiration, respectively.
-
SA
,
RE
{
O
,
F
}
S are expressions that describe the actions (sanctions, SA; and rewards,
RE) that will be carried out in case of violation or fulfilment of norms, respectively.
∈
Properties of the Relations.
The priority function
>
n
is asymmetrical and transitive,
defining an univocal relation between the norms governing the system.
The topology of the system will also define new order relationships between norms.
If an OU called
ou
2
is contained in an OU named
ou
1
, its norms must have higher
priority than the norms of
ou
1
. Formally,
∀
ou
1
,
ou
2
:
n
1
∈
Norms
(
ou
1
)
∧
n
2
∈
Norms
(
ou
2
)
∧
Contains
(
ou
1
,
ou
2
)
→
n
2
>
n
n
1
(11)
4.2
Organizational Entity
The Organizational Entity of a Virtual Organization is the set of active elements of
the organization. These elements can change through time. They are considered as the
dynamic elements of the system.
Definition 7
.
The Organizational Entity of a Virtual Organization is defined as OE
=
A
,
GR
,
AN
,
AS
where:
-
A is the set of agents that populate the VO.
-
GR is the set of groups that are currently in the system. A group is an instantiation
of an organizational unit.
-
AN
N is the set of active norms of the system, i.e. all those norms whose activation
condition is true but its expiration condition has not been reached yet (AC
⊆
∧¬
EX).
-
AS
S is the set of services that the agents of the organization are currently pro-
viding.
⊆
The agents (
A
) populating the system are playing roles, they are located into groups
(
GR
) and provide services (
S
), as described in the next subsection. An OU defines an
organizational pattern for the agents that are inside it, but this does not define the con-
crete agents that must populate it. On the contrary, a group is a concrete instantiation
of an OU, defining a set of agents that populate it. Thus, an OU can be instantiated by
different groups.
