Agent-based Decision Support System for the Third Generation Distributed Dynamic Decision-making (DDD-III) Simulator

In this paper, we discuss the design and application of a decision support system (DSS) based on the third-generation distributed dynamic decision-making (DDD-III) simulator and contingency theory to increase the organizational cognitive capacity and to facilitate the processes of adaptation. The role of the DSS is to provide mission-monitoring and re-planning information to human decision-makers (DMs) in order to manage the explicit and tacit knowledge, codify them into simple and meaningful formats, and facilitate rapid transfer of knowledge among the DMs. We present an overview of contingency notions that incorporate three relevant components affecting organizational performance: (1) environment, (2) organizational structure, and (3) strategy, and demonstrate that triggers for organizational adaptation require an integrated multi-dimensional concept of congruence (fit between the organization and mission environment) incorporating structure-environment, strategy-environment, and strategy-structure matches. Due to the elusive nature of knowledge necessary for efficient and effective organizational adaptation, the knowledge management strategies for efficiently codifying and rapidly transferring the knowledge among DMs is central to achieving superior organizational performance. Our DSS is a suitable test-bed to investigate these processes, and thus provides a means for organizations to gain competitive advantage. Presented at the Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium held in San Diego, CA on 15-17 June 2004. Published in the Proceedings of the Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium, 2004. Briefing charts included. The original document contains color images.