EAGER: Exploratory Research on Detailed Design of Large Complex Systems

EARLY概念探索性研究奖（EAGER）的研究目标是开发一个概念验证系统，该系统将价值驱动的代理集成到基于代理的设计组织信息处理工作流模拟中，以开发模拟复杂系统设计决策的新功能。研究人员将开发一个基于代理的大型设计组织的模拟，其中代理能够根据要求或各种形式的激励做出设计决策。 这将提供一个可控的环境，在其中探索价值观，激励和层次结构的五个研究问题-所有确定为复杂系统的成功设计的关键。调查人员还将提供一个模拟，可以验证对实际的设计组织。如果成功，EAGER奖的研究成果将为未来开发一种强大的代理奠定基础-的仿真环境，可用于系统工程研究社区研究基本的社会学和认知现象，在详细设计阶段的大型复杂系统的发展，如飞机和汽车。 在大型复杂系统的开发过程中，由于成本超支和进度延迟，每年损失数百亿美元。研究人员建议通过研究议程来扭转这些损失，利用社会科学从根本上了解大型组织如何设计复杂的产品。这种探索性的研究将使目前的设计大规模复杂系统的过程的改革。

The research objective of this EArly-Concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award will be to develop a proof of concept system that integrates value-driven agents into an agent-based information processing workflow simulation of design organizations to develop new capabilities for simulating design decision-making for complex systems. The investigators will develop an agent-based simulation of large design organizations in which agents are capable of making design decisions in response to requirements or various forms of incentives. This will provide a controlled environment in which to explore five research questions on Values, Incentives, and Hierarchy - all identified as being critical to successful design of complex systems. The investigators will also provide a simulation which can be validated against actual design organizations.If successful, the research resulting from this EAGER award will lay the foundation for the future development of a robust agent-based simulation environment that can be used by the systems engineering research community to study fundamental sociological and cognitive phenomena in the detailed design phase of the development of large scale complex systems like aircraft and automobiles. Tens of billions of dollars per year are lost to cost overruns and schedule delays in the development of large scale complex systems. The investigators propose to reverse these losses through a research agenda to employ the social sciences to understand more fundamentally how large organizations design complex products. This exploratory research will enable a reformation of present processes for designing large scale complex systems.