Simulation of agent-based groupware with human factors

Agent-based groupware, such as the WorkWeb System, is a promising approach for open and distributed business processes and workgroups. This approach introduces agents for the interface between humans and the business system, and agents that coordinate multiple jobs, people, and organizations. However, deployment of agent-based groupware is very difficult, since introducing agents changes many people's working environments, and the effect of agents is difficult to demonstrate. Human behavior is also an important key to the success of agent-based groupware. If many people do not obey instructions from agents, the system, of course, does not function. However, we do not know how rigidly people should obey agents. To solve these problems, we present a simulator that can simulate an agent's behavior and people's behaviors with some typical user models. This paper gives the simulation model, describes a prototype of the simulator and discusses database support for the simulator.