[FRIAM] Fwd: ABM

[John Goekler]

Ah . . .  the Zen of Complexity.  (Or, is that the Complexity of Zen?)



What about continuous multi-directionality of information flow as each agent
/ entity continuously scans its horizons, assigns meanings to identified
patterns (accurately or not!), sends that out over its network(s) and adapts
its behavior according to the degree of perturbation?  (Thus also impacting
the behavior of the larger systems within which it is nested, which may in
turn engender pushback or other repressive adaptations.)



Further, I would suggest that in Complex Adaptive Social Systems (the kind
we all live and work in) structures generate patterns of behavior, but
patterns can also be structures.  (To complicate it further, structures can
also be seen as the 'physical' manifestation of relationships among the
agents, continually arising, being present and operational for a time, then
condensing and dissolving to make way for new relationships and structures.)



This aligns with the observation by Fontana and others that, initially,
agents shape networks.  Later, networks shape agents, often to the point
that the agents can be exchanged in significant numbers without
substantially altering the behavior of the system.



The classic example of this is how change initiatives in organizations so
often excite the organism's 'immune response' which then stamps out the
invading idea / carrier.



At that stage, the question (in my mind) becomes, 'If the system's
reinforcement of its patterns have become the dominant initial condition,
what then are the high leverage interventions we can take to alter the
system's behavior?'










On 6/3/07, Tom Johnson <tom at jtjohnson.com> wrote:
>
> Robert:
>
> It seems to me that there is usually (always?) bi-directionality involved
> in a dynamic system, especially between the individual and the collective.
> The collective often (Usually?  Always?) provides a context that generates
> and governs data flow, a time frame, rugged landscapes or not, etc.  Such
> data flows can hinder or enhance the individual's decisions and actions and,
> possibly, those of the collective.
>
> -Tom
>
>
> On 6/3/07, Robert Howard <rob at symmetricobjects.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Interesting paper!
> >
> > I do like seeing the phrase:
> >
> >
> >
> > Individual-based models (IBMs) allow researchers to study how system
> > level properties emerge from the adaptive behaviour of individuals
> >
> >
> >
> > The collective presupposes the individual.
> >
> > Information and properties of the part flow to the whole—not the other
> > way around.
> >
> > The cause-and-effect arrow of implication is one-way.
> >
> >
> >
> > Robert Howard
> > Phoenix, Arizona
> >
> >
> >  ------------------------------
> >
> > *From:* friam-bounces at redfish.com [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] *On
> > Behalf Of *Douglas Roberts
> > *Sent:* Friday, June 01, 2007 11:25 AM
> > *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> > *Subject:* [FRIAM] Fwd: ABM
> >
> >
> >
> > FRIAMers,
> >
> > I received this today from several of my co-workers and thought I'd pass
> > it on.
> >
> > I still can't help but feeling that in general, *way* too many words are
> > being used to describe ABM (and IBM) methodologies.  The underlying concept
> > of object-oriented software design as the basis for ABM simulation
> > architecture is just so straight forward and intuitive that I am repeatedly
> > amazed at how people continue to make such a big, mysterious deal out of it.
> >
> >
> > But, I suppose that's just me, and my opinion...
> >
> > --Doug
> >
> > --
> > Doug Roberts, RTI International
> > droberts at rti.org
> > doug at parrot-farm.net
> > 505-455-7333 - Office
> > 505-670-8195 - Cell
> >
> >
> > ****************************************************
> >
> > This is a very interesting resource re: Agent Based Modeling.
> >
> >
> >
> >             http://www.openabm.org/site/
> >
> >
> >
> > Note also the current efforts re: ODD (Overview, Design Concepts and
> > Details) –based descriptions (cf. attached manuscript).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ============================================================
> > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
> >
>
>
>
> --
> ==========================================
> J. T. Johnson
> Institute for Analytic Journalism -- Santa Fe, NM USA
> www.analyticjournalism.com
> 505.577.6482(c)                                 505.473.9646(h)
> http://www.jtjohnson.com                 tom at jtjohnson.us
>
> "You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
> To change something, build a new model that makes the
> existing model obsolete."
>                                                    -- Buckminster Fuller
> ==========================================
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
>
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