IOA sponsors an annual writing competition designed to invite fresh academic insight on the role of the Organizational Ombuds, foster cross-pollination with other professional and academic communities, and endorse talent in the next generation of Organizational Ombuds.

Submission can address any topic the author deems relevant to the organizational ombudsman profession. Authors may draw source material from conflict resolution, law, policy, business, psychology, or other fields.  Annual winners receive:

• A cash prize (which has been $2,000 in prior years and is expected to be about the same this year);
• An invitation, with financial support, to attend IOA's annual conference where they receive the award;
• A complimentary Affiliate or Student Affiliate IOA Membership; and
• The possibility of getting their submission published in the refereed Journal of the IOA.

The competition is open to anyone who has not been employed as an Ombudsman. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2014.  (IOA Writing Competition Info.)

Related Ombuds Blog posts: First Annual IOA Student Writing Competition; IOA Announces First Winner of Student Writing Competition; Journal of IOA Publishes Latest Issue in Time for Annual Conference; IOA Opens Writing Competition to Non-Ombuds; IOA Announces 2013 Writing Competition Winner.