Abstract

This research originates a top-down, meta-analytic approach to business signaling in attrition situations--a single component of a general business strategy framework central to the development of an effective Common Business Communication Language . ;An ontologic, epistemic meta-game-theoreric approach is provided to answer two questions relevant to CBCL: What is an optimal strategic signal in an attrition situation? How do we communicate such a signal in an unambiguous way? The first question examines the soundness of a strategic signal; the second examines its correctness. ;This classification of business signals extends the work of Dixit and Nalebuff by developing an ontology that can be used unambiguously to determine the type and characteristics of business signals; the effects of these signals on the behavior of a meta-game; the limits of signal types in a given situation and the required signal types to maneuver around those limits; the constructive/destructive and accelerating/decelerating effect of certain signals in an attrition situation; and, the unambiguous classification of signals as tactical, strategic, and co-operative. ;Wand's data quality framework and Bunge's systems theoretical framework are adapted to explicate the concept of signal quality. Signaling communication design deficiencies are identified: incomplete representation, ambiguous representation, meaningless state, and unclear representation; and also law-based and run-time deficiencies. These provide us with ground-maps for detecting, categorizing, and correcting these deficiencies. ;Aumann's work on minimum knowledge requirements for achieving player agreement is reevaluated. Whereas Aumann required players to have common knowledge to achieve agreement, this research presents minimal epistemic conditions for achieving it