Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparing Agent-Oriented Methodologies

  • Conference paper
Book cover Agent-Oriented Information Systems (AOIS 2003)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 3030))

Abstract

Numerous methodologies for developing agent-based systems have been proposed in the literature. However, their application is still limited due to their lack of maturity. Evaluating methodologies’ strengths and weaknesses plays an important role in improving them and in developing the “next-generation” of methodologies. This paper presents a comparison of three prominent agent-oriented methodologies: MaSE, Prometheus and Tropos. It is performed based upon an attribute-based framework which addresses four major areas: concepts, modelling language, process and pragmatics. The objectivity of the comparison is increased by including inputs from the authors of the methodologies using a questionnaire and by conducting an experimental evaluation of the methodologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Bresciani, P., Giorgini, P., Giunchiglia, F., Mylopoulos, J., Perini, A.: Troops: An agent-oriented software development methodology. Technical Report DIT-02- 0015, University of Trento, Department of Information and Communication Technology (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Busetta, P., Rönnquist, R., Hodgson, A., Lucas, A.: JACK Intelligent Agents - Components for Intelligent Agents in Java. Technical report, Agent Oriented Software Pty. Ltd, Melbourne, Australia (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Caire, G., Leal, F., Chainho, P., Evans, R., Jorge, F.G., Pavon, G.J., Kearney, P., Stark, J., Massonet, P.: Project p907, deliverable 3: Methodology for agent-oriented software neginnering. Technical Information Final version, European Institute for Research and Strategic Studies in Telecommunications (EURESCOM), 09 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Caire, G., Leal, F., Chainho, P., Evans, R., Garijo, F., Gomez, J., Pavon, J., Kearney, P., Stark, J., Massonet, P.: Agent oriented analysis using MESSAGE/UML. In: Wooldridge, M., Ciancarini, P., Weiss, G. (eds.) AOSE 2001. LNCS, vol. 2222, pp. 101–108. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cernuzzi, L., Rossi, G.: On the evaluation of agent oriented modeling methods. In: Proceedings of Agent Oriented Methodology Workshop, Seattle (November 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cohen, P.R., Levesque, H.J.: Teamwork. Nous 25(4), 487–512 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dam, K.H.: Evaluating and comparing agent-oriented software engineering methodologies. Masters minor thesis, School of Computer Science and Information Technology, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (June 2003) (supervisors: MichaelWinikoff and Lin Padgham)

    Google Scholar 

  8. DeLoach, S.A.: Analysis and design using MaSE and agentTool. In: Proceedings of the 12th Midwest Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science Conference, MAICS 2001 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  9. DeLoach, S.A., Wood, M.F., Sparkman, C.H.: Multiagent systems engineering. International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering 11(3), 231–258 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Berard, E.V.: A comparison of object-oriented methodologies. Technical report, Object Agency Inc. (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frank, U.: Evaluating modelling languages: relevant issues, epistemological challenges and a preliminary research framework. Technical Report 15, Arbetsberichte des Instituts fuer Wirtshaftsinformatik (Universität Koblenz-Landau) (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Giunchiglia, F., Mylopoulos, J., Perini, A.: The Tropos software development methodology: Processes, Models and Diagrams. In: Third International Workshop on Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (July 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hong, S., Van den Goor, G., Brinkkemper, S.: A formal approach to the comparison of object-oriented analysis and design methodologies. In: The Twenty-Sixth Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 689–699, Hawaii (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jennings, N.R.: An agent-based approach for building complex software systems. Communications of the ACM 44(4), 35–41 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Luck, M., McBurney, P., Preist, C.: Agent technology: Enabling next generation computing: A roadmap for agent-based computing. AgentLink report (2003), available from http://www.agentlink.org/roadmap

  16. O’Malley, S.A., DeLoach, S.A.: Determining when to use an agent-oriented software engineering. In: Wooldridge, M.J., Weiß, G., Ciancarini, P. (eds.) AOSE 2001. LNCS, vol. 2222, pp. 188–205. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Padgham, L.: Design of multi agent systems. Tutorial notes, available from the author (July 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Prometheus: A methodology for developing intelligent agents. In: Third International Workshop on Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (July 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Prometheus: A pragmatic methodology for engineering intelligent agents. In: Proceedings of the OOPSLA 2002 Workshop on Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 97–108, Seattle (November 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Developing Intelligent Agent Systems: A Practical Guide. John Wiley & sons, Ltd., Chichester (2004) ISBN 0-470-86120-7

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Poutakidis, D., Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Debugging multi-agent systems using design artifacts: The case of interaction protocols. In: Proceedings of the First International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi Agent Systems, AAMAS 2002 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Prasse, M.: Evaluation of object-oriented modelling languages: A comparison between OML and UML. In: Schader, M., Korthaus, A. (eds.) The Unified Modeling Language – Technical Aspects and Applications, pp. 58–75. Physica-Verlag, Heidelberg (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rumbaugh, J.: Notation notes: Principles for choosing notation. Journal of Object-Oriented Programming (JOOP) 8(10), 11–14 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Shehory, O., Sturm, A.: Evaluation of modeling techniques for agent-based systems. In: Müller, J.P., Andre, E., Sen, S., Frasson, C. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Autonomous Agents, May 2001, pp. 624–631. ACM Press, New York (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Sturm, A., Shehory, O.: Towards industrially applicable modeling technique for agent based systems (poster). In: Proceedings of International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Bologna (July 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sturm, A., Shehory, O.: A framework for evaluating agent-oriented methodologies. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International Bi-Conference Workshop on Agent-Oriented Information Systems (at AAMAS 2003) (July 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Winikoff, M., Padgham, L.: The prometheus methodology. In: Bergenti, F., Gleizes, M.-P., Zambonelli, F. (eds.) Methodologies and Software Engineering for Agent Systems, ch. 11, Kluwer Academic Publishing, NewYork (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wood, B., Pethia, R., Gold, L.R., Firth, R: A guide to the assessment of software development methods. Technical Report 88-TR-8, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: A methodology for agent-oriented analysis and design. In: Proceedings of the third international conference on Autonomous Agents (Agents 1999), Seattle, WA, May 1999, ACM, New York (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: The Gaia methodology for agent-oriented analysis and design. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3(3) (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yu, E.: Modelling Strategic Relationships for Process Reengineering. PhD thesis, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science (1995)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Khanh Hoa Dam & Michael Winikoff

Authors
  1. Khanh Hoa Dam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Winikoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Trento - DISI, 38100, Povo, Trento, Italy

    Paolo Giorgini

  2. Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology, 2000, Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia

    Brian Henderson-Sellers

  3. Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Michael Winikoff

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Dam, K.H., Winikoff, M. (2004). Comparing Agent-Oriented Methodologies. In: Giorgini, P., Henderson-Sellers, B., Winikoff, M. (eds) Agent-Oriented Information Systems. AOIS 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 3030. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-25943-5_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-25943-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-22127-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-25943-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation