A survey of multi-agent organizational paradigms

TLDR

Organizational design in multi‑agent systems strongly influences performance, and diverse strategies have been identified, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. This article surveys the major multi‑agent organizational paradigms to aid designers in evaluating and selecting appropriate structures for specific domains. The survey covers hierarchies, holarchies, coalitions, teams, congregations, societies, federations, markets, and matrix organizations, describing each paradigm’s features, pros and cons, and illustrative instantiations.

Abstract

Many researchers have demonstrated that the organizational design employed by an agent system can have a significant, quantitative effect on its performance characteristics. A range of organizational strategies have emerged from this line of research, each with different strengths and weaknesses. In this article we present a survey of the major organizational paradigms used in multi-agent systems. These include hierarchies, holarchies, coalitions, teams, congregations, societies, federations, markets, and matrix organizations. We will provide a description of each, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and provide examples of how they may be instantiated and maintained. This summary will facilitate the comparative evaluation of organizational styles, allowing designers to first recognize the spectrum of possibilities, and then guiding the selection of an appropriate organizational design for a particular domain and environment.