1. How can the blackboard metaphor
enrich collaborative ACM systems?
AdaptiveCM 2014 – Ulm 01.09.2014
Helle Frisak Sem, Steinar Carlsen and Gunnar John
Coll (Norway)
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
2. 2
Plan for the talk
• The blackboard metaphor
• Adaptive Case Management and collaborative work
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
• Balancing flexibility
and compliance
• Example - UTSYS
• Why is the blackboard
metaphor useful?
3. The blackboard metaphor
“A blackboard system is an artificial intelligence application based on
the blackboard architectural model, where a common knowledge
base, the "blackboard", is iteratively updated by a diverse group of
specialist knowledge sources, starting with a problem specification
and ending with a solution.”
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard_system
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
4. Adaptive case management
CM:
Handling of many cases that are
essentially similar
Focus on automation
Adaptive CM:
Cases are different or circumstances
vary in an unpredictable way
Follow common and identifiable
patterns, but usually also stray
outside these
Supporting knowledge workers
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Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
5. Ordered/complex duality
5
Ordered situation with
clear indication of
what to do
Complex situation where
participants discover
patterns and decide actions
within bounds
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
6. Types of collaboration (Mintzberg)
Coordination
Direct
supervision
Standardization Mutual
adjustment
of
employee
skills
of
work
processes
of
outputs
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
7. Towards a rich ACM toolbox…
• Balancing procedural compliance and run-time flexibility
• Embracing the unknown, creating headroom for expert
7
judgment
We must offer different
collaboration types and
support mechanisms!
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
8. Collaboration characteristics
• What is the reason to start to do something?
• How does information flow?
• Where is the locus of control?
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Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
9. Hierarchies / direct supervision
• I act because I’m told to
• Flow follows line of command – Instructions down,
information up
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• One person in control
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
10. Standardization – predefined design
• I act because it’s in my job description
• Information flows with the work/relay baton
• Control by design
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Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
11. • I act because I think it is important
• Emergent control
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Mutual adjustment
• Shared information
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
12. Blackboard metaphor – a way of thinking
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Main principles:
Shared information
Free initiative
Push and pull
Examples:
Progress of science
Scrum boards
Crime boards
Case files
Wirearchy
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
13. Our goal:
Provide IT support for collaborative work
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• Support individual
work and
collaboration
• Ensure performance
correctness
• Provide flexibility to
handle the
unexpected
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
14. Balancing adaptivity and compliance
Different means serve different collaboration patterns
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• Initiative
• Information flow
• Control
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
ACM Shared
information
platform
Tools
and
services
Process-snippets
Structured
blackboards
Tasks
and
worklists
Task
library
15. Balancing adaptivity and compliance
How to do
the work
Easy if you
know what to do ACM Shared
information
platform
15
Flexible relay
Shared information
and free initiative
Tools
and
services
Process-snippets
Structured
blackboards
Tasks
and
worklists
Task
library
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
16. 16
Example - UTSYS
UTSYS –for The National Police Immigration Service (NPIS)
Operative police work related to immigration and forced
return of illegal immigrants
• Registration
• Identification
• Forced return
• Detention
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
17. 17
Example - UTSYS
• Parts of the work follow strict rules
• Unpredictable overall process
• Different types of actors with their specific goals and
subgoals - lines of work
• Non-monotonic goals
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
18. Undercover police infiltrates
B’s connections, revealing that
B has family in northern parts
of Elbonia, under a different
surname.
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Identification
status
Travel
documents
Identity
verified
Travelling
arrangements
Work supported by other police systems and UDI systems
UTSYS supported work
Asylum seeker «B»
arrives and an UTSYS
case is created.
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Detain B.
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Book flight.
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Assign escort.
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Surname
retrieved
Case gets reactivated:
Queries to authorities in
Elbonia using this name
returns passportmatch.
This triggers new tasks,
updating the blackboard.
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Police
work
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The Norwegian Directorate of
Immigration processes the
application for asylum.
The application is turned down.
Application
for asylum
submitted
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When all subgoals
have been completed,
deportation can be
carried out, and the
case closed.
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Acceptance confirmed
by Elbonian authorities.
Identity Return Detention Case state
Awaiting
ID verification
Effectuation
Finalisation
Closing
UTSYS Case blackboard
Detained
Initial
interview
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Work to verify B’s identity
proves inconclusive. It is,
however, 90% certain that
the subject is an Elbonian.
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
Failed
application
returned
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Elbonian authorities refuse to
receive B without firm
evidence that he is a subject of
Elbonia. Case is suspended.
19. 19
Example - UTSYS
Structured blackboards with lines of work
• Separate goals
• Mutual adjustment between the lines
• Relay-activity or standardization within tasks/lines
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
20. 20
Area for LoW (a)
• Worklist with structured
and unstructured tasks
• Active task support based
on predefined process
snippets
• Context sensitive task
library for LoW (a)
• Rulebase for calculations
• Progress overview
• Emergent workflow
«Case x»
Case
Case state
Case subgoals
Common overview
blackboard
Area for LoW (b)
• Static task library for
LoW (b)
• Emergent workflow
• Tools for for executing
special analyses
• Structured access to
work results
• Activity plan editor
with reminders
Area for LoW (c)
• Mainly a log, where
LoW experts record
their actions and
reminders manually
• Activity plan editor
with reminders
• Resource library for
this LoW
Event
New case x
instantiated
Main goal:
Case x solved
and closed
Case manager
needs a full
overview, across
lines of work
(LoW)
Discipline specialists operate within their respective lines of work (LoW).
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
21. Why use the blackboard metaphor
• Promote the participants’
ability to coordinate work
through mutual
adjustment
• Give the participants
room to act by their
professional judgment
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Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
22. When to use blackboard metaphor
• When several participants collaborate
• When there is a need for shared situation awareness
• When information- and workflows between participants cannot be
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pre-designed
Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
23. Questions and discussion
Email: Helle.Frisak.Sem@computas.com
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Computas AS 04.09.2014 – Please quote
Thank you!