A role-based conflict resolution method for a collaborative system

Conflict resolution is one of the most important problems that must be solved in building a collaborative system. In many CSCW (Computer-Supported-Cooperative Work) applications or systems, roles were granted in the design and application of these systems. Consequently, we may infer that “without roles, there would be no collaboration”. Based on the success of RBAC, we found that role-based methods are very useful in building collaborative systems. However, there is little research on conflict resolution based on roles. This paper, briefly introduces an object model for collaborative systems OMCS and a multimedia coauthoring system MCAS, and mainly discusses the role management and a role-based conflict avoidance and resolution method in the system MCAS. It emphasizes the importance of roles in conflict avoidance and resolution. In the last section, it summarizes the paper and draws a conclusion that a role-based method can help greatly to resolve conflicts in collaborative systems.