Agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS), a way to simulate a large number of choices by individual actors, is one of the most exciting practical developments in business modeling since the invention of relational databases. It represents a new way to understand data and generate
information that has never been available before--a way for businesses to view the future and to understand and anticipate the likely effects of their decisions on their markets and industries. It thus promises to have far-reaching effects on the way that businesses in many areas use computers to
support practical decision-making. Managing Business Complexity is the first complete business-oriented agent-based modeling and simulation resource. It has three purposes: first, to teach readers how to think about ABMS, that is, about agents and their interactions; second, to teach readers how
to explain the features and advantages of ABMS to other people and third, to teach readers how to actually implement ABMS by building agent-based simulations. It is intended to be a complete ABMS resource, accessible to readers who haven't had any previous experience in building agent-based
simulations, or any other kinds of models, for that matter. It is also a collection of ABMS business applications resources, all assembled in one place for the first time. In short, Managing Business Complexity addresses who needs ABMS and why, where and when ABMS can be applied to the everyday
business problems that surround us, and how specifically to build these powerful agent-based models. Agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS), a way to simulate a large number of choices by individual actors, is one of the most exciting practical developments in business modeling since the invention of relational databases. It represents a new way to understand data and generate
information that has never been available before--a way for businesses to view the future and to understand and anticipate the likely effects of their decisions on their markets and industries. It thus promises to have far-reaching effects on the way that businesses in many areas use computers to
support practical decision-making. Managing Business Complexity is the first complete business-oriented agent-based modeling and simulation resource. It has three purposes: first, to teach readers how to think about ABMS, that is, about agents and their interactions; second, to teach readers how
to explain the features and advantages of ABMS to other people and third, to teach readers how to actually implement ABMS by building agent-based simulations. It is intended to be a complete ABMS resource, accessible to readers who haven't had any previous experience in building agent-based
simulations, or any other kinds of models, for that matter. It is also a collection of ABMS business applications resources, all assembled in one place for the first time. In short, Managing Business Complexity addresses who needs ABMS and why, where and when ABMS can be applied to the everyday
business problems that surround us, and how specifically to build these powerful agent-based models.

The Challenge 3(8) Why This Book? 3(1) The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Agents 3(1) Why Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation Is Needed Now 4(1) The Foundation of ABMS 5(1) Why ABMS Is Useful, Usable, and Used 6(2) How ABMS Works: An Overview 8(1) Incremental Discovery, Design, and Development 8(1) How This Book Is Organized 8(1) Case Studies 9(1) Note 9(1) References 9(2) The ABMS Paradigm 11(13) Parts Make the Whole 11(1) The Two Fundamental Types of Models 11(2) Nondeterminism 13(1) The Cycle of Innovation 14(2) Other Angles on Nondeterminism 16(1) Choosing Behaviors to Model 17(1) The Spectrum of Model Uses 18(4) Discovering That the Whole Is Greater Than the Parts 22(1) Summary 22(1) Note 23(1) References 23(1) Agents Up Close 24(21) Agents: An Overview 24(1) Agent Attributes 24(3) Agent Behaviors 27(1) Simple Agents or Proto-Agents 27(4) Complex Agents 31(10) A Market Example 41(2) Discover, Design, and Develop 43(1) Notes 43(1) References 43(2) The Roots of ABMS 45(14) ABMS in Context 45(1) Historical Roots 45(1) Complexity Science 46(9) The Diffusion of ABMS 55(1) Plectics Redux 56(1) References 56(3) The Role of ABMS 59(38) The Big Picture of Modeling and Simulation for Business Applications 60(3) A Supply Chain Example 63(3) A Survey of Modeling Approaches 66(27) When to Use Agents? 93(1) Blended Modeling Approaches 93(1) Summary 94(1) Note 95(1) References 95(2) Discovering Agents and Agent Behaviors 97(19) Agents Are What They Do 97(1) Social Agents 97(1) Examples of Behavioral Theories 97(4) Agent Diversity 101(1) Other Agents 101(1) Multi-Agent Systems 101(1) Artificial Intelligence 102(1) Discovering Agents 102(1) Discovering Agent Behaviors 102(10) A Market Example 112(2) Acting Up 114(1) References 114(2) Office ABMS 116(14) In the Office 116(1) Progressive Development 116(1) Prototyping 116(1) ABMS Environments 117(1) The Four Model Growth Paths 117(1) Leveraging Change 118(3) Returning to the Questions 121(1) Office ABMS Architectures 122(1) The Office ABMS Continuum 123(3) Examples 126(2) Back at the Office 128(1) Notes 128(1) References 128(2) How to Do Desktop ABMS 130(53) ABMS on the Desktop 130(1) Agent Spreadsheets 130(31) Dedicated ABMS Prototyping Environments 161(10) A Market Example 171(11) Summary 182(1) Notes 182(1) References 182(1) How to Do Participatory ABMS 183(12) Live and In Person! 183(1) The Start of It All 183(1) Strengths and Weaknesses 184(2) Developing Strong Minds 186(1) Turning Over Rocks 187(1) Details, Details, Details 187(3) A Market Example 190(4) Summary 194(1) Note 194(1) References 194(1) How to Do Large-Scale ABMS 195(26) From Desktops on Up 195(1) Features Galore! 195(11) Current Toolkits 206(3) The Large-Scale Modeling Life Cycle 209(1) Designing Large-Scale Models for Use 210(5) Agent Patterns and Antipatterns 215(2) Examples 217(2) Summary 219(1) Notes 219(1) References 219(2) ABMS Verification and Validation 221(14) V&V Overview 221(1) Verification 222(4) Validation 226(5) Related Aspects of V&V 231(2) Summary 233(1) References 233(2) A Visual Approach to Data Collection and Cleaning 235(26) Tasty Morsels 235(1) The Fact Food Pyramid 235(4) A Model Diet 239(1) Marshmallows and Campfire Stories 239(1) Cooking Times Vary 240(1) Data Quality 241(7) A Recipe for Success 248(5) Dinner Is Served 253(5) A Market Example 258(1) Summary 259(1) References 260(1) Understanding and Presenting ABMS Results 261(22) Analyzing ABMS Results 261(17) Presenting ABMS Results 278(4) Seven Steps 282(1) Notes 282(1) References 282(1) ABMS Project Management 283(15) The ABMS Business Function 283(1) The Fundamentals 283(1) Project Goals 284(1) Stopping Mission Creep 284(1) Champions 285(1) The Domain Skills Pyramid 285(1) ABMS Project Structures 286(6) The ABMS Business Process 292(4) Growing Up 296(1) References 297(1) Rising to the Challenge 298(5) The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Agents 298(1) Useful, Usable, and Used 299(4) Index 303