Using Game Theory to Portray the Complexities of Faculty and Administrator Conflict: An Exploratory Study in Higher Education

摘要

This study sought to develop an understanding of conflict involving university administrators and faculty including the characteristics, contributors, and prevalence of conflict. The study explored frequently discussed topics of importance to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the institution's strategic climate. Document analyses, observations, interviews, and surveys were conducted to identify different dimensions of conflict that may be portrayed via a game theoretic lens. Three key areas of tension and conflict were suitable for this approach and are presented as portraits: the silent majority as a prisoner's dilemma, pursuit of university success as a stag hunt, and shifting of administrator-faculty boundaries as a hawk-dove game.