A Modelling Approach for Agent Based Systems Design

A modelling approach based on the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is proposed as a first stage in developing agent based systems. The SSMapproach enables a better conceptualisation of the system being developed, and enables each stake holder to evaluate the system from their particular viewpoints. Such an approach can also support the decomposition of an information system into a set of collaborating agents. We suggest that this is a more intuitive approach to designing agent based systems, and one which can be used as a first step to other work centered on the Unified Modelling Language (UML). A methodology for translating systems requirements into a set of collaborating agents is presented