中文摘要：

元胞自动机能利用简单的局部规则和离散方法描述复杂的全局的连续系统，已成为探索复杂系统的一种有效工具。文章阐述了元胞自动机的发展历程、结构、特征及基本理论与方珐；介绍了元胞自动机在寡头垄断行为、交通管理及工程运输、城市发展、市场营销、股票投资、企业战略等管理领域中的应用；指出元胞自动机理论的优势与不足，并提出进一步的研究展望。

英文摘要：

Cellular automata（CA） has become an effective tool to explore the complex system because it can discrete the complicated overall situation and continuous system with the simple local rule and discrete method. In this paper, the developing process, structure, characteristic, basic theories and methods of CA are presented firstly. Then the applications of CA in management systems such as the oligopoly behavior, traffic management and engineering transportation, urban development, marketing, stock investment, business strategy are introduced. Finally, the advantage and deficiency of CA are pointed out and the further research prospect is put forward.