Computational organization theory involves the use of computer models and simulation to develop and test theories of markets, organizations, and other collectives of agents. Highly interdisciplinary, this field draws on disciplines such as economics, computer science, artificial intelligence, sociology, psychology, physics, biology, organizational behavior, and social psychology. However, there is a single unifying theme throughout the various approaches: the articulation of theories and models in the form of computer programs.

One of the earliest, and most influential, of such an approach was the program described in Cyert and March's A Behavioral Theory of the Firm (Cyert & March, 1963). Although organizational theorists readily adopted the findings, they did not readily adopt the methodology. Despite the occasional occurrence of a computational modeling approach, most organizational theorists do not practice, nor teach, the role of computational modeling in departments of organizational behavior. Computational modeling is generally not considered a standard methodology to teach or to employ. However, in many disciplines issues of organizational theory are quite relevant and, in fact, do employ such methodologies.

The visiting group from the United States is preparing a discussion paper on the topics addressed.

The participants from the United States were Richard Burton (Duke University), Kathleen Carley (Carnegie Mellon University), Michael Cohen (University of Michigan), Michael Fehling (Stanford University), Les Gasser (NSF and University of Southern California), Ray Levitt (Stanford University), and Michael Prietula (University of Florida).