escalation-protocols

Conflict Resolution in Hierarchical Agent Teams: Practical Protocols Instead of Overstated Mechanism Proofs

Use structured scoring, bounded escalation, and explicit tie-breaks when agents disagree

Inter-agent conflict is normal in multi-agent teams. The operational challenge is not to eliminate disagreement but to resolve it with bounded delay and acceptable fairness. This article reframes conflict resolution as a protocol design problem: classify the conflict, compare admissible options under a shared scorecard, and escalate only when the local team cannot safely decide.