Agent Modeling of Information Assurance

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual overview of a simulation experiment involving CPAs and assurance services. In this paper, a simplified situation is developed in which some agents are producers of information and other agents are consumers of information. This type of situation actually models capital markets well, where companies are producing annual reports (information production) and investors are evaluating the reports prior to making investment decisions (information consumption). The CPAgent in the model acts in one of two modes. In the first mode, it can increase the reliability of information production and thereby increase information efficiency. In the second mode, it can promote the relevance of the information to the information consumer, thereby increasing information effectiveness. The model operationalizes continuous auditing through learning. The model is given some additional theoretical interest by appealing to Habermas’ Communicative Action Theory. In this theory, communication between individuals (agents) is seen as being influenced by four validities: performance, sincerity, legitimacy, and truth. In the model, performance and sincerity are affected by the CPAgent’s working with information producers. Legitimacy and truth are two validities that the CPAgent can influence on the information consumer’s side. The paper presents results of simulations run using the above model. Factors that were varied include the information loss function from period to period and the costs of the CPAgents services. Service costs were differentiated between information production assurance costs and information consumption assurance costs. Reputation affects for all three types of agents were also varied. The results indicate a stable model under conditions which are both interesting and realistic. The final section of the paper presents an extension which addresses modeling agents as both information producers and consumers and CPAgents as having aptitude in both efficient information production and effective information consumption activities.