J. van Hillegersberg

Design and evaluation of a simulation game to introduce a Multi-Agent system for barge handling in a seaport

Multi-Agent systems have been studied extensively, but only a few of these systems are deployed in practice. Essential to get a system implemented is acceptance. In a distributed setting this is challenging, especially when one deals with multiple independent and competing companies. We share our experiences with the use of a real-time multi-player simulation game that we developed to illustrate a Multi-Agent system for the barge handling problem in the Port of Rotterdam. We experienced that the game has many advantages over a more passive approach, such as vocal presentations. We conclude that the game has considerably contributed to the acceptance of the illustrated Multi-Agent system.

Agent-based Human-computer-interaction for Real-time Monitoring Systems in the Trucking Industry

Auto ID systems can replace time-consuming, costly and error-prone processes of human data entry and produce detailed real time information. However, they would add value only to the extent that data is presented in a user-friendly manner. As model-based decision support is not always adequate, an agent-based approach is often chosen. Real life entities such as orders and trucks are represented by agents, which negotiate in order to solve planning problems. For the respective data representation at least two forms can be distinguished, focusing either on (1) resources (account-based) or (2) orders (order-centric). Applying cognitive fit theory we describe how the different interfaces affect decision making. The hypotheses would be tested in a laboratory experiment. The intended contribution should support that order-centric interfaces have higher user-friendliness and are especially beneficial to low-analytics and planners working under time pressure

1st International Workshop on Tools for Managing Globally Distributed Software Development (TOMAG 2007)

The advent of global distribution of software development has made managing collaboration and coordination among developers more difficult due to various reasons including physical distance, differences in time, cultural differences etc. A nearly total absence of informal communication among developers makes coordinating work in a globally distributed setting more critical. The goal of this workshop is to provide an opportunity for researchers and industry practitioners to explore both the state-of the art in tools and methodologies for managing global software development (GSD).

Transportation Performances Measures and Metrics: Overall Transportation Effectiveness (OTE): A Framework, Prototype and Case Study

Transportation is essential to global economy. Nevertheless, Logistic Service Provisioning (LSP) is an industry with typically low margins. Competition is fierce and processes often inefficient, one example being a high percentage of empty miles (for trucks) resulting in unnecessary costs. Collaboration and better information exchange between LSPs and their supply chain partners are perceived to be essential in reducing empty miles. As a basis for collaboration initiatives, it is important to identify how LSPs currently perform. There is an urgent need for performance measurement. Business Intelligence (BI) matured over recent years and provides methods and tools for the construction of performance measurement dashboards. Still, LSPs struggle to identify accurate and effective performance indicators and face difficulties to implement these in a BI dashboard. To address this problem, we follow a design science approach to develop an Overall Transportation Effectiveness (OTE) framework using an extensive literature analysis and an analysis of current performance measurement practices. The OTE framework is implemented in a BI dashboard, which we piloted and evaluate in the Dutch branch of one of Europes largest LSPs. The paper concludes with a discussion of our findings and an outlook on potential future work.

Enterprise application integration: introduction to the minitrack

’ The business landscape has been radically changed since the advent of the Internet. The Internet has opened new opportunities for companies to revamp existing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems and introduce new business models. In particular, the integration of business processes across increasingly fluid boundaries of companies into virtual enterprises, can be potentially greatly eased by relying on the Internet as the business backbone. Virtual enterprises constitute temporary, locationindependent consortia aimed towards a shared goal. These networked organizations do not only integrate their value chain to increase the customer-perceived added-value, but also typically share their resources in a more efficient way then before. This new paradigm of doing business demands integration of existing legacy systems, packaged software (ERP systems) and newly developed component based enterprise systems. Integration of these various technologies is far from trivial. Organizations attempting to integrate their systems across the value chain are facing complex issues such as integrating enterprise models, semantic interoperability, definition of interfaces and interchange standards, wrapping legacy system components, and, implementing secure and reliable distributed transactions in such highly distributed and hybrid component-based environments. Recently, various methodologies, architectures and technologies that have emerged to address these requirements. These include: OMG’s Model Driven Architecture (MDA), middleware standards (SOAP, CORBA), message broker architectures, cross-organizational workflow management systems, business object frameworks, wrapper technologies, interface standards such as WSDL, SAP BAPI’s, Microsoft Biztalk, UDDI, ebXML, standard modeling languages (UML), and lastly, model interchange formats (XMI). This minitrack presents seven excellent papers that address and challenge the wide range of research topics and