A multi-agent system is described that uses software agents to represent objects in a chosen real world environment. Each agent has structure having certain characteristics where a relation with other agents can be established if the other agents have characteristics that are suitable to the requesting agent. The multi-agent system is able to perform dynamic negotiations autonomously between agents so as to establish relations when a new event enters the system or to offer compensation to modify existing relations and to self-organise to optimise the overall value of the system.