Computational Models of Human Organizational Dynamics
Abstract
During this quarter we have developed and reported our psycho-social ontology. It encompasses physical, cognitive, and social categories. Foundational categories of objects, time, and space are built into "actors", which are anything that embodies a process or capacity to behave (e.g., copy machine, human, organization). "Agents" are actors whose practices attend to criteria (i.e., agents with purpose). "Intelligent agents" additionally have the ability to manipulate their practices. Social structure is then built from relations over agent practices, and divides into resource relations, communication or dialogue relations, and role relations. We have also embarked on a very detailed study of a particular asymmetric threat of global interest. We have consulted the open source literature and found exceptionally high-quality reference material is available on the individuals, organizations, cultures, and nations of importance to the study. We consulted with experts at SOCOM and at the FBI, and can report that they found our model of the subject to be very enlightening and useful to their analysis and decision-making about how to deal with the subject. This study of an asymmetric threat, and our results when we tested it with experts, has taught us an important lesson about how best to test our work. In the past, we have sought access to data. Similarly, the government has sought (and continues to seek) data on our behalf. We now see that our method delivers the most value if we work with an organization charged with using such data to gain understanding and make decisions. In other words, we can build very high-quality models from data. But a model needs to be focused by some use - modeling is in service to action, and our view of risk management formalizes this common- sense conclusion. Hence we now hope that a partner organization can be identified, so that we can work with clients that have a vested interest in modeling a subject agent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA376579
Entities
People
- Gregg Courand
- Michael Fehling