EAGER: Exploratory Research on Detailed Design of Large Complex Systems

这一早期概念探索性研究(AGUGER)奖的研究目标将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设计组织的基于代理的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能力。研究人员将开发一种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。这将提供一个受控的环境，在其中探索关于价值观、激励和等级制度的五个研究问题-所有这些问题都被认为是成功设计复杂系统的关键。研究人员还将提供一个可以与实际设计组织进行验证的模拟。如果成功，这项急切的奖项所产生的研究将为未来基于代理的稳健模拟环境的发展奠定基础，系统工程研究社区可以使用该环境来研究大型复杂系统(如飞机和汽车)开发的详细设计阶段的基本社会学和认知现象。在大规模复杂系统的开发中，每年因成本超支和进度延误而损失数百亿美元。研究人员建议通过一项研究议程来扭转这些损失，利用社会科学更根本地了解大型组织如何设计复杂的产品。这项探索性研究将使目前设计大型复杂系统的流程得到改革。

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.