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A model for collaboratively solving complex problems
E-CARGO and Role-Based Collaboration offers a unique guide that explains the nature of collaboration, explores an easy-to-follow process of collaboration, and defines a model to solve complex problems in collaboration and complex systems. Written by a noted expert on the topic, the book initiates the study of an effective collaborative system from a novel perspective. The role-based collaboration (RBC) methodology investigates the most important aspects of a variety of collaborative systems including societal-technical systems. The models and algorithms can also be applied across system engineering, production, and management.
The RBC methodology provides insights into complex systems through the use of its core model E-CARGO. The E-CARGO model provides the fundamental components, principles, relationships, and structures for specifying the state, process, and evolution of complex systems. This important book:
Written for researchers and practitioners dealing with complex problems in collaboration systems and technologies, E-CARGO and Role-Based Collaboration contains a model to solve real world problems with the help of computer-based systems.
HAIBIN ZHU, PhD is a Full Professor and the Chair of Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Founding Director of Collaborative Systems Laboratory, member of Arts and Science Executive Committee, Nipissing University.
Nomenclature
Part 1 Backgrounds
Chapter 1 Introduction
Abstract
Keywords
Collaboration, Collaboration Systems, Components of Collaboration, Nature of Collaboration, Complex Systems, Collectivism, Individualism, Problem Solving.
1.1 Collaboration and Collaboration Systems
1.1.1 Collaboration
1.1.2 Collaboration Systems
1.2 Collaboration as “Divide and Conquer”
1.3 Key Components of Collaboration
1.4 The Nature of Collaboration
1.5 The Complexity of Collaboration
1.6 Collectivism or Individualism
1.7 Collaboration and Complex Systems
1.7.1 What are Complex Systems?
1.7.2 Examples of Complex Systems
1.8 Collaboration and Problem Solving
1.9 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 2 Role Concepts
Abstract
Keywords
2.1 Terminology
2.2 Modeling-Roles
2.2.1 Evolution of Objects
2.2.2 Fundamental Modeling Concepts
2.2.3 Interfaces between Objects
2.2.4 Separation of Concerns
2.2.5 Modeling-Roles in Specification and Design
2.3 Roles in Agent Systems
2.4 Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
2.4.1 Evolution of RBAC-Roles
2.4.2 Applications of RBAC-Roles
2.5 Roles in CSCW Systems
2.6 Roles in Social Psychology and Management
2.7 Convergence of Role Concepts
2.8 Summary
References
Exercises
Part 2 Methodologies and Models
Chapter 3 Role-Based Collaboration
Abstract
Keywords
3.1 Requirements for Role-Based Collaboration
3.2 Architecture of an RBC system
3.3 The Environment Established by Role-Based Collaboration
3.4 The Process of Role-Based Collaboration
3.5 Fundamental Principles of RBC
3.5.1 Object principles
3.5.2 Agent principles
3.5.3 Role principles
3.5.4 Group principles
3.6 Benefits of Role-Based Collaboration
3.6.1 Establish trust in collaboration
3.6.2 Establish Dynamics
3.6.3 Facilitate Interaction
3.6.4 Support adaptation
3.6.5 Information Sharing
3.6.6 Other benefits
3.7 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 4 The E-CARGO Model
Abstract
Keyword
4.1 First Class Components
4.1.1 Objects and Classes
4.1.2 Roles and Environments
4.1.3 Agents and Groups
4.2 Second Class Components
4.2.1 Users or Human Users
4.2.2 Message
4.2.3 System
4.3 Fundamental Relationships in E-CARGO
4.3.1 The Relations among Roles
4.3.1.1 Role Classes and Instances
4.3.1.2 Inheritance Relation
4.3.1.3 Promotion relations
4.3.1.4 Report-to Relations
4.3.1.5 Request relations
4.1.3.6 Derived relations
4.1.3.7 Conflict relations
4.3.2 The Relations between Roles and Agents
4.3.3 The Relations between Agents
4.3.4 Properties of an RBC system and their Applications
4.4 Kernel Mechanisms of RBC
4.4.1 Primitive roles
4.4.2 Fundamental Classes
4.4.3 Implementation
4.5 Related Work
4.6 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 5 Group Role Assignment (GRA)
Abstract
Keywords
5.1 Role Assignment
5.2 A Real-World Problem
5.3 Extended Expression of the E-CARGO Model
5.4 Group Role Assignment Problems
5.4.1 Simple role assignment
5.4.2 Rated group role assignment
5.4.3 Weighted role assignment
5.5 General Assignment Problem and the K-M Algorithm
5.6 Solutions to GRA Problems
5.7 Implementation and Performance Experiments
5.8 Performance Analysis
5.9 Case Study by Simulation
5.10 Related Work
5.11 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 6 Group Role Assignment with Constraints: GRA+
Abstract
Keywords
6.1 Group Multi-Role Assignment (GMRA)
6.1.1 A Real-World Scenario
6.1.2 Problem Formalization
6.1.3 The CPLEX solution and its Performance Experiments
6.1.4 Improvement of the CPLEX Solution
6.1.5 Comparisons
6.1.6 Another Real-World Example
6.2 Group Role Assignment with Conflicting Agents (GRACA)
6.2.1 A Real-World Scenario
6.2.2 Problem Formalization
6.2.3 The Benefits of Avoiding Conflicts
6.2.4 GRACAR/G Problems Are Subproblems of an NP-Complete Problem
6.2.5 Solutions with CPLEX
6.3 Group Role Assignment with Cooperation and Conflict Factors
6.3.1 A Real-World Scenario
6.3.2 Problem Formalization
6.3.3 A Practical Solution
6.3.4 Performance Experiments
6.3.5 The Benefits
6.3.6 Cooperation and conflict Factor Collection
6.4 Related Work
6.5 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 7 Group Role Assignment with Multiple Objectives: GRA++
Abstract
Keywords
7.1 Group Role Assignment with Budget Constraints (GRABC)
7.1.1 A Real-World Scenario
7.1.2 Problem Formalization
7.1.3 Solutions with an LP Solver
7.1.4 Simulations of GRABC-WS and GRABC-Syn
7.1.5 Performance Experiments and improvements
7.1.6 Synthesis and a case Study
7.2 Good at Many things and Expert in One (GMEO)
7.2.1 A Real-World Scenario
7.2.2 Problem Formalizations
7.2.3 A Solution with CPLEX
7.2.4 Performance Experiments and Improvements
7.2.5 A Simple Formalization of GMEO with an Efficient Solution
7.2.6 A More Efficient Solution for GMEO-1
7.3 Related Work
7.4 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 8 Solving Engineering Problems with GRA
Abstract
Keywords
8.1 Group Role Assignment with Agents’ Busyness Degrees
8.1.1 A Real-World Scenario
8.1.2 Problem Formalization
8.1.3 Solutions
8.1.4 Simulations and Benefits
8.2 Group Multi-Role Assignment with Coupled Roles
8.2.1 A Real-World Scenario
8.2.2 The Problem Specification
8.2.3 The Solutions with CPLEX and Initial Results
8.2.4 Verification Experiments
8.3 Most Economical Redundant Assignment
8.3.1 A Real-World Scenario
8.3.2 Problem Formalizations
8.3.3 A Solution with CPLEX
8.3.4 A new Form of the MERA Problem and a More Efficient Solution
8.3.5 Experiments and Comparisons
8.4 Group Role Assignment with Agents’ Preferences
8.4.1 A Real-World Scenario
8.4.2 Problem Formalization
8.4.3 The Benefits of Considering Agents’ Preferences
8.5 Related Work
8.6 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 9 Role Transfer
Abstract
Keywords
9.1 Role Transfer Problems
9.1.1 Algorithm to Find a Partition
9.1.2 Role Transfer Algorithm with Matrices
9.1.3 Algorithm for Role Transfer with the E-CARGO Model
9.2 The M-M Role Transfer Problems
9.2.1 M-1 Problem
9.2.2 1-M Problem
9.2.3 M-M Problem
9.3 From M-M RTPs to Role Assignment Problems
9.4 Temporal M-M Role Transfer Problems
9.4.1 Temporal Transfer with Weak Restriction
9.4.2 Temporal Transfer with Strong Restriction
9.4.3 A Near-Optimal Solution to SRTP with the Kuhn-Munkres Algorithm
9.4.4 Performance Experiments
9.5 Role Transfer Tool
9.6 Related work
9.7 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 10 Adaptive Collaboration Systems
Abstract
Keywords
10.1 Adaptation and Adaptability
10.2 A Real-World Problem
10.3 Group Performance and its parameters
10.4 Adaptive Collaboration
10.4.1 A scenario for a future battle
10.4.2 Apply E-CARGO and Related Algorithms to Solve the Problem
10.4.3 A new qualification model
10.5 The Architecture and the Self-* Properties of an Adaptive Collaboration System
10.6 A General Approach to AC
10.7 Related Work
10.8 Summary
References
Exercises
Part 3 Applications
Chapter 11 Team Performance
Abstract
Keywords
11. 1 Team Performance
11.2 Static Team Performance
11.2.1 Modeling Team Performance with the E-CARGO Model
11.2.2 Refine the Predicted Team Performance by Introducing More Constraints
11.2.3 Case Study
11.3 Dynamic Team Performance
11.3.1 A Typical Dynamic Scenario of Collaboration
11.3.2 Formalization of dynamic team performance
11.3.3 Simulation Design
11.3.4 Simulation Results and Analysis
11.4 Related Work
11.5 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 12 Applications of RBC and E-CARGO
Abstract
Keywords
12.1 Role-Based Human-Computer Interaction
12.1.1 Natural Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence
12.1.2 Interaction
12.1.3 Characteristics of Interaction
12.1.4 Classification of Interactions
12.1.5 The differences between HCI and AI3
12.1.6 Shared models for interaction
12.1.7 Roles as shared models for interaction
12.1.8 Scenarios of Role-Based Interaction
12.1.9 Case Study: Restrain Mental Workload with Roles
12.2 When to Re-staff a Late Project
12.2.1 Formalization of the Problem
12.2.2 A Solution Based on GRA
12.2.3 Simulations
12.2.4 Performances
12.2.5 Case study
12.3 An Efficient Outpatient Scheduling Approach
12.3.1 A Real-World Outpatient Scheduling Problem
12.3.2 Collaborative Outpatient Scheduling - Our Strategy
12.3.3 From the Outpatient Problem to the Group Role Assignment Problem
12.3.4 The Algorithm and Complexity
12.4 Related Work
12.5 Chapter Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 13 Social Simulation with RBC and E-CARGO
Abstract
Keywords
13.1 Social Systems, Organizations, and Individuals
13.2 Establishing the Requirement of Social Simulation
13.3 Meeting the requirements of Social Simulation with E-CARGO
13.4 Social Simulation Method with RBC and E-CARGO
13.5 Case Study 1: Peer Review and Improvement
13.5.1 Peer Review
13.5.2 The Benefits Obtained by GRA
13.6 Case Study 2: Collectivism or Individualism
13.6.1 How to Express Collectivism and Individualism
13.6.2 Overall team performances of Collectivism and Individualism
13.6.3 Simulations and Results
13.7 Case Study 3: How to Acquire the Preferred Position in a Team
13.7.1 A Real-World Scenario
13.7.2 Policies and Simulation Experiments
13.7.3 The Effects to the Group Performance
13.7.4 Results and Discussions
13.8 Related Work
13.9 Summary
References
Exercises
Chapter 14 More to Investigate
Abstract
Keywords
14.1 Role Negotiation
14.2 Role Specification
14.3 Agent Evaluation
14.4 Collective Group Role Assignment
14.4.1 One-Way Collective Role Assignment
14.4.2 Two-Way Collective Role Assignment
14.5 Role Engine
14.5.1 Role Dynamics
14.5.2 Role Interaction
14.5.3 Role Presentation
14.6 Other challenges in RBC and E-CARGO
14.6.1 Optimizations
14.6.2 Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE)
14.6.3 Multi-agent systems
14.7 Not the end
References
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