A framework for collaborative business development based on middle agent model

Abstract

With a middle-agent based framework, we can expect to figure out a business model that is focused on distributors for win-win situation by revealing the effect in cooperation and collaboration. Distributors can create good cooperation and collaboration by mediating. We give an example of the collaborative development of new products where a distributor mediated. We modeled distributors in a collaborative development and implemented a tool for an agent-based simulation, in which we imagined a product market. We investigated the role and effect of middle agents, distributors. In addition, we proposed a framework for a new business model. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.