A conflict resolution methodology based on technology and sociology - a complex-system approach

Conflicts occur in almost the whole course of any computer supported cooperative system. A conflict resolution strategy based on complex-system theories is presented in this paper, and has been instantiated in our engineering practice. The main contributions of this paper are: (1) applying complex-system theories to the conflict resolution strategy; (2) presenting a general conflict model based on the complex-system theories. This model can overcome the precious model dependant on the global strategy which can not be obtained thoroughly in a complex CSCW system; (3) utilizing the role assignment mechanism so as to reach conflict resolutions in a computer supported cooperative system.