Modeling emergent network organizations

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Alqithami, Saad^{; ;} | Hexmoor, Henry

Affiliations: Department of Computer Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, United States | Department of Computer Science, Albaha University, Albaha 65431, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: {Alqithami,Hexmoor}@siu.edu

Note: [] Corresponding author.

Abstract: Fervent and agile communication on social networking sites and in virtual organizations provides opportunities for potential issues to trigger individuals into individual action as well as the attraction and mobilization of like-minded individuals into an organization that is both physically and virtually emergent. Examples are the rapid pace of Arab Spring and the diffusion rate of the occupy movement. Previous organizational models lack the representational power to model spontaneous exigencies of a network organization that accounts for rapid rates of dissemination in impromptu networks. This model, therefore, is conceived in a life cycle for a prototypical, emergent networked organization and description of operations therein from formation to dissolution. After describing the life cycle, this article offers insights for a model of a successful emergent organization and an implemented example of a spacecraft organization of satellites.

Keywords: Organizations, multi-agent systems, game theory, social networks, collaboration

DOI: 10.3233/WIA-140299

Journal: Web Intelligence and Agent Systems: An International Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 325-339, 2014