Narrow Results

In this paper we study the model of opinion dynamics with individuals on nodes of a scale-free network, introducing an opinion evolution mechanism and according to the nodes' degrees defining broad-sense-concept leaders on the network. We compare the strength of opinion influence between leaders and followers. With computer simulations of opinion dynamics, we found that the more complex is the scale-free network, the easier for leaders to make their opinion accepted by the masses.

A model on the effects of leader, media, viruses, worms, and other agents on the opinion of individuals is developed and utilized to simulate the formation of consensus in society and price in market via excess between supply and demand. The effects of some time varying drives (harmonic and hyperbolic) are also investigated.

The critical-charge criterion of the stem-leader transition and the shielding effects of space charges on the streamer inception are two most contested issues on the inception of positive upward leader–streamer system (LSS). In this paper, a series of simulation experiments on the LSS inception were designed and carried out. A new critical-charge criterion in the range of 0.2–0.3 μC was proposed, and the previous criterion of 1.0 μC was proved to be harsh. The shielding effect of positive space charges on the streamer inception was verified directly by the experiment results. A theoretical formula for calculating the LSS inception voltage by the first-corona inception voltage was obtained. An appropriate first-corona inception time for getting an earlier LSS inception was proved to be existent. At last, the effects of the so-called improved lightning rods, such as the early streamer emission rod (ESE) and the controllable lightning rod (CL), were discussed, and it seemed that they would not help to extend the protective zones of the lightning rods.

This paper considers the problem of searching for information equilibria in an oligopoly market in the case of Stackelberg leaders. A framework considers the reflexive behavior of three agents, and linear agent’s cost functions with different coefficients (i.e., marginal and fixed costs) are considered. The results of the study are as follows. First, models of the reflexive games for a triopoly that consider a diversity of agents’ reasonings about environmental strategies are developed. Second, formulas for calculating equilibria in the games with three agents for arbitrary reflexion rank are derived.

In today's virtual organizations, the type of communication mode that individuals use to interact with others may influence their decision outcomes and the information they exchange with others. The information that the individuals exchange is often influenced by their incentive structures, the type of communication mode, and the nature of the authority structure in their group. This paper reports the results of a set of experiments in which the groups work on a mixed-motive negotiation task under different types of incentive structures, authority structures, and communication modes. The experimental study consists of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. The results suggest that proper design of incentive structures and embedding these incentives into Group Decision Support System (GDSS) features is critical to the successful utilization of GDSS for virtual groups engaged in a mixed-motive negotiation task.

In this article, we show that, in high-tech industries, there are significant differences in the Habitual Domains (HD) of technologists/researchers (T/R) and managers/leaders (M/L). The differences are measured specifically in the following: characteristics, attitudes toward career and life, perception of business problems, business competences and resources. We then describe how a T/R can effectively transform himself/herself into a successful M/L, by transforming his/her HD closer to that of a successful M/L.