International Journal of e-Collaboration, 3(2), 1-15, April-June 2007 1 Copyright © 2007, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. AbstrAct This article presents a new concept for supporting electronic collaboration, operations, and relationships among trading partners in the value chain without hindering human autonomy. Although autonomous intelligent agents, or electronic robots (e-bots), can be used to inform this endeavor, the article advocates the development of e-sensors, i.e., software based units with capabilities beyond intelligent agent’s functionality. E-sensors are hardware-software capable of perceiving, reacting and learning from its interactive experience through the supply chain, rather than just searching for data and information through the network and reacting to it. E-sensors can help avoid the “bullwhip” effect. The article briely reviews the related intelligent agent and supply chain literature and the technological gap between ields. It articulates a demand-driven, sense-and-response system for sustaining e-collaboration and e-business operations as well as monitoring products and processes. As a proof of concept, this research aimed a test solution at a single supply chain partner within one stage of the process. Keywords: bullwhip effect; collaboration; IS operations; MIS; operations management; real-time operations; sense-and-response; supply chain management INtrODUctION: FrOM E-bOts tO E-sENsOrs As e-business and e-commerce has grown, so has the need to focus attention on the: (1) Electronic communications between e-partners; (2) operational transactions (e.g., sales, purchasing, communications, inventory, customer service, ordering, submitting, check- ing-status, and sourcing, among others); and (3) monitoring improvements in the supply (supply, demand, value) chain of products, systems, and services (Gaither & Fraizer, 2002). Integrating continuous commu- nication protocols and operational beyond Intelligent Agents: E-sensors for supporting supply chain collaboration and Preventing the bullwhip Effect Walter Rodriguez, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA Janusz Zalewski, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA Elias Kirche, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA IGI PUBLISHING This paper appears in the publication, International Journal of e-Collaboration, Volume 3, Issue 2 edited by Ned Kock © 2007, IGI Global 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.igi-pub.com ITJ3609