Agent coordination and communication in sociotechnological systems: Design and measurement issues

This article is concerned with enhancing agent coordination in modern sociotechnological systems. To this end, sociotechnological systems are conceptualized as problem solving systems that comprise human and technological agents engaged in dynamic collaboration. Following this, there is a discussion of the challenge of achieving agent coordination in problem solving systems as technological agents become increasingly autonomous. A key assertion is that agent coordination in problem solving systems might be enhanced through the study of competent coordination in living systems such as human and animal groups. Based on a review of research on competent coordination in human and animal groups, design principles for problem solving systems are then presented. Finally, methods are proposed for measuring the extent to which a given agent operates in accordance with these principles.