Journal of IOA: Guidance for Authorship Disputes

Scott B. Cantor, an Ombuds for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is the author of the latest article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association. Cantor delves into a conflict that is familiar and important for Ombuds in higher education: a dispute between researchers over the order of authorship. He reviews the relevant context for these disputes and suggests a strategy for Ombuds. The full article, "A Game-Theoretic Approach to Resolving an Authorship Conflict," is now available online.

Here is the abstract:

Using concepts from game theory, this paper presents a model of authorship conflict, a common concern presented to ombuds in academic institutions. The model demonstrates that when ombuds can encourage visitors to think cooperatively – rather than competitively – better outcomes can result. This paper addresses (1) the importance of authorship in academic institutions and guidelines for authorship; (2) a hypothetical example of a conflict between two researchers concerning two manuscripts; (3) a brief introduction to game theory, including a discussion of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, a two-person non-cooperative game; (4) modeling the contrived authorship example as a Prisoner’s Dilemma; and (5) implications for authors in conflict and ombuds who mediate between those authors. This paper demonstrates that by using a game-theoretic model to identify options and possible outcomes, an ombuds can help frame the decisions that their visitors make and perhaps free them from a Prisoner’s Dilemma.

(JIOA 2025.)