Team Contribution Attribution Ledger (TCAL): A Framework for Distributed Human Contribution Aggregation and Attribution in AI-Augmented Systems

Abstract

As collaborative work increasingly incorporates artificial intelligence, accurately identifying and attributing human contributions across teams has become a critical challenge. Traditional attribution methods rely on output-based metrics or narrative reconstruction, both of which fail to capture the underlying intellectual contributions that drive outcomes. This work introduces the Team Contribution Attribution Ledger (TCAL), a framework for aggregating distributed Human Conception Ledger (HCL) records to generate structured, evidence-based attribution across collaborators. TCAL synthesizes individual human-origin contribution events into team-level attribution models, enabling quantifiable yet human-reviewed determination of contribution. The framework provides a scalable system for attribution in research, engineering, and organizational environments, supporting applications in intellectual property, authorship, compensation, and governance.Related to Human Conception Ledger:Human Conception Ledger (HCL): A Framework for Provenance, Attribution, and Human Inventorship in AI-Augmented Systems