Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Switching Costs in Distributed Problem-Solving Systems

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence, 15th International Conference (DCAI 2018)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 800))

  • 617 Accesses

Abstract

In many situations, changing the status quo may induce particular extra costs. Such switching costs are assumed to cause inertia and reduce performance. This paper studies the effects of switching costs in distributed problem-solving systems and, for this, employs an agent-based simulation based on NK fitness landscapes. The results indicate that the complexity of the problem to be solved considerably shapes the effects of switching costs. Depending on the period of time in the search for superior solutions, switching costs may even have beneficial effects in terms of stabilizing the search and increasing the system’s performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Basaure, A., Suomi, H., Hämmäinen, H.: Transaction vs. switching costs - comparison of three core mechanisms for mobile markets. Telecommun. Policy 40, 545–566 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Thomas, A.B., Judy, K.F., Vijay, M.: Consumer switching costs: a typology, antecedents, and consequences. J. Acad. Mark. Sci. 31, 109–126 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Blatt, J.M.: Optimal control with a cost of switching control. J. Aust. Math. Soc. Ser. B Appl. Math. 19, 316–332 (1976)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Hannan, M.T., Freeman, J.: Structural inertia and organizational change. Am. Sociol. Rev. 49(2), 149–164 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kim, H.W.: The effects of switching costs on user resistance to enterprise systems implementation. IEEE Trans. Eng. Manag. 58(3), 471–482 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Polites, G.L., Karahanna, E.: Shackled to the status quo: the inhibiting effects of incumbent system habit, switching costs, and inertia on new system acceptance. MIS Q. 36(1), 21–42 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Luther, W.J.: Cryptocurrencies, network effects, and switching costs. Contemp. Econ. Policy 34(3), 553–571 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Agmon, N., Kraus, S., Kaminka, G.A.: Multi-robot perimeter patrol in adversarial settings. In: IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 19–23 May 2008, pp. 2339–2345 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Le Ny, J., Dahleh, M., Feron, E.: Multi-agent task assignment in the bandit framework. In: 2006 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 5281–5286. IEEE (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Yu-Han, L., Devin, B.: Optimal trajectories for kinematic planar rigid bodies with switching costs. Int. J. Rob. Res. 35, 454–475 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ho, K.I.J., Sum, J.: Scheduling jobs with multitasking and asymmetric switching costs. In: IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), 5–8 October 2017, pp 2927–2932 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Le, T., Szepesvári, C., Zheng, R.: Sequential learning for multi-channel wireless network monitoring with channel switching costs. IEEE Trans. Sig. Process. 62, 5919–5929 (2014)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Kauffman, S.A., Levin, S.: Towards a general theory of adaptive walks on rugged landscapes. J. Theor. Biol. 128, 11–45 (1993)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Kauffman, S.A.: The Origins of Order: Self-organization and Selection in Evolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wall, F.: Agent-based modeling in managerial science: an illustrative survey and study. RMS 10, 135–193 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Li, R., Emmerich, M.M., Eggermont, J., Bovenkamp, E.P., Bäck, T., Dijkstra, J., Reiber, J.C.: Mixed-integer NK landscapes. In: Parallel Problem Solving from Nature IX, vol. 4193, pp. 42–51, Springer, Berlin (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Wall, F.: The (beneficial) role of informational imperfections in enhancing organisational performance. In: Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, vol. 645, pp. 115–126, Springer, Berlin (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Levitan, B., Kauffman, S.A.: Adaptive walks with noisy fitness measurements. Mol. Diversity 1(1), 53–68 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rivkin, R.W., Siggelkow, N.: Patterned interactions in complex systems: implications for exploration. Manag. Sci. 53, 1068–1085 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alpen-Adria-Universitaet Klagenfurt, 9020, Klagenfurt, Austria

    Friederike Wall

Authors
  1. Friederike Wall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Friederike Wall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. BISITE Digital Innovation Hub. Edificio Multimedia I+D+i, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Fernando De La Prieta

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electronics, Information and Communication, Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka, Osaka, Japan

    Sigeru Omatu

  3. Department of Computing Systems, School of Industrial Engineers at Albacete, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain

    Antonio Fernández-Caballero

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Wall, F. (2019). Effects of Switching Costs in Distributed Problem-Solving Systems. In: De La Prieta, F., Omatu, S., Fernández-Caballero, A. (eds) Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence, 15th International Conference. DCAI 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 800. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94649-8_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation