engleski

Multi-agent system for simulation of team behaviour in product development

Teams play a crucial role in many product development activities. However, teams - as complex socio-technical systems - are challenging to study in a real-world setting. Computational models and simulations offer easily controllable and cost-effective tools for supporting team studies. Computational models prove especially valuable in studies on the sufficient conditions for the emergence of various team properties and behaviours. As a consequence, the computational models offer a possible explanation of the observed phenomena and provide means for theory- testing and hypothesis generation. To support cognitive studies on product development teams, this dissertation develops a multi-agent system capable of representing various aspects of product development teams. Building on the existing theories, empirical studies and current teamwork models, this work derives a detail theoretical model of a designer, its cognition, its tasks, and interactions with others. The thesis then implements the theoretical model in a multi-agent system directed at studies of the emergence of team properties and behaviours – in particular, team learning and adaptation. Extensive testing of the derived computational model concludes the goal of obtaining a multi-purpose research tool for studies of product development teams and confirms the appropriateness of the chosen simulation technique – agent-based modelling - for the intended research goal.

Agent-based modelling and simulations ; product development teams ; emergent team properties ; team learning ; team adaptation

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