Abstract
The optimal control of an information structure is considered. The term “Information structure” stands here for a set of functions which determine what information the members of a team organization can obtain from the so-called state of the world in order to take their decisions. This term is considered in an extended sense, as compared with Marschak and Radner or Ho and Chu, in order to take into account the possibility of varying the parameters of the information structure according to control laws.
Such generalization is mainly important in large-scale systems characterized by the presence of posts where information is handy, and posts where decisions are taken. Whenever these posts are interconnected by a real communication network (characterized by noises, costs for messages, stochastic interruptions, etc.), an ‘objective’ reason for setting up a decentralized control scheme occurs, and decision rules are required for an efficient data interchange within the network.
A team theory approach is used to derive these decision rules for communication structures of practical interest. Two distinct subteams are considered: a subteam of controlling agents, who exert control actions on the process, and a subteam of observing agents, who decide when, and what kind of, observed data must be sent to the controlling subteam. A one-stage decision process is dealt with under LQG assumptions. Then an N-stage problem is investigated, but only a unique controlling agent and a unique observing agent are the members of the team. This two-person dynamic case is also extended to an infinite time control horizon to derive optimal stationary control laws.
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Casalino, G., Davoli, F., Zoppoli, R. (1978). Optimal Control of Information Structures. In: Mohler, R.R., Ruberti, A. (eds) Recent Developments in Variable Structure Systems, Economics and Biology. Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, vol 162. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45509-4_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45509-4_6
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