Analysis and Design of Agent-Oriented Information Systems

Knowledge Engineering Review, Vol. 17:3, 215-260, 2002

University of Alberta School of Business Research Paper No. 2013-109

Posted: 26 May 2013 Last revised: 27 Jun 2013

See all articles by Ofer Arazy

Ofer Arazy

Independent

Carson Woo

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Sauder School of Business

Date Written: February 11, 2002

Abstract

Analysis and design of information systems (IS) is the process of eliciting the system’s requirements and transforming them into a model that could be used to develop IS. Analysis and design of agent-oriented information systems (AOIS) relates to the very same process using the multi-agent paradigm. A comprehensive and rigorous methodology for developing multi-agent systems is lacking [Elammari and Lalonde 1999, Odell et al. 2000]. Most existing multi-agent systems were developed in an ad-hoc manner, and systems developers paid little attention to requirements specification and the analysis process [Treur 1999a].

In this paper, we describe different methodologies that are suitable for analyzing and designing AOIS. We view the analysis and design process as a modelling problem, and look at the representation models when studying the frameworks. In addition to agent-oriented Analysis and Design (A&D) methodologies, we also review the representational component of agent-oriented architectures, languages, and development frameworks. These neighboring fields provide valuable insight of what should be captured by models of an agent-oriented A&D methodology. To better understand the various approaches, we analyze their strengths and weaknesses, classify them according to two dimensions. This then enables us to compile a list of requirements for an ideal unified agent-oriented modelling methodology.

Categories and Subject Descriptions: D.2.1 [Software Engineering].

Requirements/Specifications – Languages and Methodologies; D.2.10 [Software Engineering].

Design – Methodologies and Representation; H.4.m [Information Systems Applications]:

Miscellaneous; I.2.1 [Artificial Intelligence]: Applications and Expert Systems; I.2.11 [Artificial Intelligence]: Distributed Artificial Intelligence – Languages and structures; K.6.1 [Management of Computing and Information Systems]: Project and People Management – Systems analysis and design.

Keywords: Autonomous agents, cooperative agents, design, multi-agent systems, agent-oriented information systems

Suggested Citation

Arazy, Ofer and Woo, Carson, Analysis and Design of Agent-Oriented Information Systems (February 11, 2002). Knowledge Engineering Review, Vol. 17:3, 215-260, 2002 , University of Alberta School of Business Research Paper No. 2013-109, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2268732

Carson Woo

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Sauder School of Business ( email )

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Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Canada
604-822-8390 (Phone)

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