Distant group responsibility in multi-agent systems

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a specific form of graded group responsibility called “distant responsibility” and provides a formal analysis for this concept in multi-agent settings. This concept of responsibility is formalized in concurrent structures based on the power of agent groups in such structures. A group of agents is called responsible for a state of affairs by a number of collective decision steps if there exists a strategy for the agent group to preclude the specified state of affairs in the given number of steps. Otherwise, the group is partially responsible based on its maximum contribution to fully responsible groups. We argue that the notion of distant responsibility is applicable as a managerial decision support tool for allocation of limited resources in multi-agent organizations.