Integrative negotiation in complex organizational agent systems

Author

Zhang, Xiaoqin ; Lesser, Victor ; Wagner, Tom

Author_Institution

Comput. & Inf. Sci. Dept., Univ. of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, MA, USA

fYear

2003

fDate

13-16 Oct. 2003

Firstpage

140

Lastpage

146

Abstract

This paper introduces an integrative negotiation mechanism, which enables agents to choose any attitude from the extremes of self-interested and fully cooperative to those that are partially self-interested and partially cooperative. Experimental work verifies this mechanism and explores the question whether it always improves the social welfare to have an agent be completely cooperative. It is found that it is good for the organization to have agents being partially cooperative in their local negotiation with other agents rather than being fully cooperative, in order to deal more effectively with the uncertainty of not having a more informed view of the state of the entire agent organization.

Keywords

multi-agent systems; complex ogranizational agent system; conflict resolution; cooperation; integrative negotiation; multiagent systems; resource allocation; self interest; task allocation; Computer science; Contracts; Government; Information science; Laboratories; Multiagent systems; Problem-solving; Resource management; Supply chains; Uncertainty;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Intelligent Agent Technology, 2003. IAT 2003. IEEE/WIC International Conference on

Print_ISBN

0-7695-1931-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IAT.2003.1241060

Filename

1241060