Norm Based Agency for Designing Collaborative Systems
Kecheng Liu, Lily Sun, Alan John Dix · 2001
Abstract. Information systems are organisations in which signs are created, processed and consumed. In order to fulfil the organisational goals and objectives, its members must understand their responsibilities and authorities, and must act cooperatively. The key to this organisation and coordination lies in norms which define responsibilities and authorities for each human agent, and establish regularities of behaviour. In the context of computer supported cooperative work, where ÒintelligentÓ software agents are involved, to understand the norms of behaviour of various human agents becomes critical. Software agents can perform some tasks autonomously on the userÕs behalf. Such delegation involves a set of complicated philosophical and legal issues. Following discussion on delineation of various boundaries of responsibility and authorities, this paper addresses norms and normative behaviour of human agents within an organisation. It discusses the taxonomies of norms and a method of norm specification, with examples. Finally it presents an approach of norm-based agency for designing collaborative systems and a case study of an insurance claim for illustration.