Konrad Fuks

Dynamic Configuration and Management of e-Supply Chains Based on Internet Public Registries Visited by Clusters of Software Agents

There are three main contributions of the work presented in this paper. First, a particular approach to develop and manage multi-agent environments is presented. It is based on so called agent clusters which group agents that mutually cooperate to perform a particular mission, e.g. to build and manage supply chains, to negotiate details of order. Second contribution is the presentation of public registry model. Authors have widened RosettaNet approach to public registries. Third, the integration of agent cluster model and public registry model is presented. New approach shows how agent technology can automate information exchange process within public registry.

Simulation of Resource Acquisition by e-Sourcing Clusters Using NetLogo Environment

In the last few years many business clusters have been formed. Thanks to the geographical proximity as well as close cooperation companies are able to gain a lot of benefits that they would not reach if they worked on their own. The ICT has given a possibility to go beyond traditional cooperation and has allowed various geographically spread companies to create alliances. Especially the agent technology seems very promising. The software agents are able to efficiently support e-marketplaces, including partners who offer one another the best cooperation conditions at a given time[1][2]. The main contribution of this paper is a verification of the improved e-sourcing strategy which was presented in [3]. Simulations of this model have been carried out in the NetLogo environment. It has been shown that the usage of e-sourcing cluster can inconceivably boost up the process of resource acquisition.

Improved E-sourcing Strategy with Multi-agent Swarms

The research results reported in this paper mainly relate to the well-known limitations of e-sourcing, i.e. the difficulties and restrictions in browsing thousands globally operating e-marketplaces, differences between the requirements of a potential participant for buying purposes and those of the organizations seeking participation as suppliers, growing competitiveness and the changeability of the demands at e-marketplaces. Combining agent technology with bee strategy offers a solution, as suggested in the paper. The behavior of bees, which cope with the management of limited resources in an unpredictable and constantly changing environment seems applicable to e-sourcing. This expands the present opportunities offered by e-marketplaces. The main contribution of this paper is an adaptation of the Polymorphic Self-Slimming Agent (PSA) model to the e-sourcing platform, which is based on the bees strategy. This combination shows how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can significantly increase resources acquisition and search of potential suppliers.

Virtual organization networking strategies: simulations experiments

In recent years, all kinds of networks, especially social and business ones, have been developing very dynamically. The increase in their importance is mainly caused by the popularization of information technology [2]. The Internet, as a means of communication and a platform of business interactions, has caused commercial cooperation and exchange to get a global dimension. The participants of networks share their resources and carry out investments (e.g. technology development, market research, launching new products), which may improve the competitiveness of individual parties as well as the whole network. The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of networking strategies representing different approach to business cooperation. The authors have built and verified a simulation model. The results of the simulation experiments have allowed to analyze the structures of the networks which depend on networking strategies.

A New Approach to Information Exchange within Public Registries Based on RosettaNet Standards

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) frequently face big difficulties in joining e-commerce B2B networks. Often this is due to high entry costs and/or IT infrastructure requirements. The main contribution of the work presented in this paper is a new approach to RosettaNet B2B standards for SMEs. Our work is concentrated on information exchange model within so called public registries based on RosettaNet specifications. Registries built basing on the presented model can be used as a background for conducting B2B over Internet and building electronically managed supply chains or networks

Adaptation of extended polymorpohic self-slimming agent model into e-sourcing platform

There are two main contributions of the work presented in this paper. First, extended PSA agent model is described. It is based on two new properties of so called bootstrap agent: multiplication and parallelism. Second contribution is application of extended PSA model to e-sourcing platform. This duo (e-sourcing and extended PSA model) shows enterprises can significantly increase resources acquisition and potential suppliers search.

Adaptation of Social Network Analysis to Electronic Freight Exchange

The purpose of this article is to explore the opportunities of application of social network analysis method (SNA) into the business environment. After conceptually explaining the idea of business network as well as providing brief overview of the social network analysis method, the authors present an in-depth investigation of network relationships of the members of electronic freight exchange called Trans.eu. This freight exchange is one of the biggest in Europe.

e-Sourcing Clusters in Network Economy

Acquiring resources has always played an important role in doing business. Initially companies gathered them within their own capacity until different sorts of business clusters started to appear. They began to purchase products and services needed to do business by their individual members in order to obtain preferential prices and other trade conditions. Thanks to geographical proximity as well as close and stable cooperation, companies are able to gain a lot of benefits that they would not reach if they worked on their own. The information and communication technologies (ICT) has given a possibility to go beyond traditional cluster concept and has allowed various geographically spread companies to form electronic clusters (e-clusters). Agent technology seems especially promising in this respect. Software agents are able to support inefficient traditional e-marketplaces, including partners who offer one another the best cooperation possibilities and conditions at a given time. The main contributions of this book chapter is the presentation of new resources acquisition method and the e-sourcing cluster concept. Additionally authors have built and verified simulation model of four e-sourcing cluster strategies.

Supply Chain with Reverse Flows- Benefiting from Recycled Resources

The research to be presented is a case study introduced to analyze relations between a company and its suppliers, as well as consequences of decisions concerning suppliers selection. The consequences analysis is based on simulation in which outcomes are average costs of resources depending on suppliers selected. The results of the analysis can be helpful for other companies when selecting suppliers, as it shows relations between suppliers, resources they provide, and final product, its quality and cost. An important aspect of the analysis and the case study presented is using reverse material flows, as alternative sources the company uses are recycling companies. Hence, except from economical, ecological point of view is given.

e-Sourcing cluster strategies: empathy vs. egoism

The main contributions of this paper are the presentation, verification and simulations of the e-sourcing cluster strategies. For the experiment needs there were distinguished four sourcing strategies which refer to the level of agents empathy (willingness to search for resources that meet requirements of other companies) and the method of the resource distribution. The evaluation of each e-sourcing cluster strategy was simulated in the NetLogo environment.