Autonomy in an organizational context

Abstract

In this paper it is discussed how organizations deal with autonomy of agents that constitute them. Based on human organizations and on their legal characterization, it is proposed a normative and role-based model for organizations (human or not), that assumes autonomy of agents as a natural ingredient. It is discussed how an organization can work without regimenting agents behavior, but simply by describing their expected (ideal) behavior (through the deontic characterization of the roles agents hold) and fixing sanctions for agents that deviate from what is expected of them. Interaction between agents is ruled through contracts that agents are free to establish between each other. A formal model, supported by a deontic and action logic, is suggested. Although this model is in a preliminary stage, it might be an useful approach to incorporate autonomy as a natural property of agents in an organizational context. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.