promise theory

Promise theory is a way of understanding how individual agents—like people, computers, or organizations—coordinate and work together based on voluntary commitments. Each agent makes promises about what they will do, and others rely on these promises to coordinate their actions. These promises are made without insisting, fostering trust and flexibility in complex systems. Essentially, it's a model for how cooperative behavior emerges through mutual commitments, allowing systems to function smoothly by trusting that each part will fulfill its promises without rigid control.