Searching far away from the lamp-post: An agent-based model

Oana Vuculescu

doi:10.1177/1476127016669869

Searching far away from the lamp-post: An agent-based model

Institut for Virksomhedsledelse

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

13 Citationer (Scopus)

235 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article presents insights from a laboratory experiment on human problem solving in a combinatorial task. I rely on a hierarchical rugged landscape to explore how human problem-solvers are able to detect and exploit patterns in their search for an optimal solution. Empirical findings suggest that solvers do not engage only in local and random distant search, but as they accumulate information about the problem structure, solvers make ‘model-based’ moves, a type of cognitive search. I then calibrate an agent-based model of search to analyse and interpret the findings from the experimental setup and discuss implications for organizational search. Simulation results show that, for non-trivial problems, performance can be increased by a low level of persistence, that is, an increased likelihood to quickly abandon unsuccessful paths.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Strategic Organization
Vol/bind	15
Nummer	2
Sider (fra-til)	242-263
Antal sider	22
ISSN	1476-1270
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127016669869
Status	Udgivet - 2017

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Citationsformater

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Searching far away from the lamp-post: An agent-based model

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