We consider the point of view of an agent about to enter a multi-agent organization or system, or simply about to play a role or to choose between two possible roles. Our aim is to provide an agent with means to evaluate before entering the organization or playing the role the implications this action will have on its ability to satisfy its user's objectives. By entering an organization or playing a role, an agent is subject of constraints imposed from external sources (other agents, the organization itself, the society). As we argue in this thesis, the social autonomy in deliberation is an agent's characteristic directly linked to these constraints originating from social sources. Therefore, we base an agent's evaluation of the possible roles to play on the concept of autonomy. This approach is illustrated with an ambient intelligence scenario implemented and deployed on handheld devices.
