A software management shell may provide an execution environment for one or more software agents, e.g., by creating new instances of itself on a suitable hardware platform. For example, such a management shell may address new or shifting requirements that renders a software agent non-compliant by creating a new management shell that meets the new or shifting requirements. A new management shells may learn and advertise its capabilities and capacity to assist existing management shells in meeting the new or shifting requirements. The creation of new management shells, and the migration of software agents between shells, may be in response to policy changes that govern how the software agents are to operate within the management shells and on a given hardware platform.