This paper is part of a research program based on the thesis that the only reliable way for ensuring that a heterogeneous distributed community of software modules and people conforms to a given policy is for this policy to be enforced. We have devised a mechanism called law-governed interaction (LGI) for this purpose. As has been demonstrated in previous publications, LGI can be used to specify a wide range of policies to govern the interactions among the members of large and heterogeneous communities of agents dispersed throughout a distributed enterprise, and to enforce such policies in a decentralized and efficient manner. enterprise is bound to be governed by a multitude of policies. Such policies are likely to be interrelated in complex ways, forming an ensemble of policies that is to govern the enterprise as a whole. As a step toward organizing such an ensemble of policies, we introduce in this paper a hierarchical inter-policy relation called superior/subordinate. This relation is intended to serve two distinct, if related, purposes. First, it is to help organize and classify a set of enterprise policies. Second, this relation is to help regulate the long term evolution of the various policies that govern an enterprise. For this purpose, each policy in the hierarchy policies subordinate to it, in some analogy to the manner in which a constitution in American jurisprudence constrains the laws subordinate to it. Broadly speaking, the hierarchical structure of the ensemble of policies that govern a given enterprise is to reflect the hierarchical structure of the enterprise itself.

Abstract One of the most important challenges facing the buildersof enterprise software is the reliable implementation of the policies that are supposed to govern the various commu-nities operating within an enterprise. Such policies are widely considered fundamental to enterprise modeling, andtheir specification were the subject of several recent investigations. But specification of the policy that is to gov-ern a given community is only the first step towards its implementation--the second, and more critical step is to en-sure that all members of the community actually conform to the specified policy. The conventional approach to the implementation of apolicy is to build it into all members of the community subject to it. But if the community in question is large and het-erogeneous, and if its members are dispersed throughout a distributed enterprise, then such "manual " implementationof its policy would be too laborious and error-prone to be practical. Moreover, a policy implemented in this manualmanner would be very unstable with respect to the evolution of the system, because it can be violated by a change in thecode of any member of community subject to it. It is our thesis that the only reliable way for ensuring thatan heterogeneous distributed community of software modules and people conforms to a given policy is for this policyto be strictly enforced. A mechanism for establishing enterprise communities by formally specifying their policies, andby having these policies enforced is the subject of this paper.

This paper demonstrates that work in digital enterprises -- like work in conventional enterprises -- can be carried out effectively by autonomous agents, subject to a regulatory regime that combines standing enterprise-wide policies with flexible managerial controls. The proposed regulatory mechanism, which is based on the concept of Law Governed Interaction (LGI), can support a wide range of enterprise policies, and a wide spectrum of managerial styles -- including the procedural style underlying the so called Workflow Management System (WfMS).

This position paper presents an ontology for matchmaking users’ profiles in open mobile systems. This ontology can aid to promote activities involving spontaneous collaboration. This work is contextualized in an application to support the negotiation of shuttle service tickets. We also propose a matchmaking service, used to combine users ’ profiles to form groups to bargain discount in tickets negotiation. Furthermore, we applied a law enforcement approach to guarantee the dependability of the case study prototype implementation.

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE: This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. Ithas been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). Copies may be requested from IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, P.

Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). Copies may be requested from IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, P.

requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). Copies may be requested from IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, P.