Computational Modeling of Temporary Design Teams

This paper presents a framework for a computational model of temporary design teams (TDTs). The framework is based on the situated Function-Behaviour-Structure (FBS) ontology, which is used to describe the different aspects of a TDT. This paper demonstrates how TDTs can be represented and reasoned about in terms of the FBS variables. A situated social agent’s architecture is introduced. At the agent level the social attributes that are considered include agent’s motivation, threshold point, attitude and beliefs. This agent is built on the idea of constructive memory. Constructive memory gives the situated agent the ability to adapt to the changing environment, which in this case is the team structure, team goals, and the other agents. This allows the framework to be used for studying the social aspects of changing team structures and team composition, which are characteristic of TDTs and the changing work culture that are facilitated by improved communication and IT tools. This research aims to lay the computational foundation for a means of studying temporary design team behaviour.