Archives for the 'News & Articles' Category
In Defence of Opening Statements at Mediation
There has been a strong movement lately to get rid of Opening Statements (sometimes called Storytelling or an Opening) at the beginning of mediations. Lawyers tell me that they each understand the other side’s case, and won’t be persuaded by each other’s arguments, so don’t see the point in having an Opening. They also suggest that the Opening Statements will polarize and unnecessarily antagonize.
A Mediator’s Take on U.S. Stalemate
Democrats and Republicans are dead locked over how to raise the country’s $14.3 trillion (U.S.) debt ceiling before an Aug. 2 deadline. With both sides at an impasse, the Toronto Star asked Allan Stitt, a Toronto-based mediator and arbitrator who lectures on conflict resolution, for some insight into high-stakes negotiations.
Is Timing Everything?
When should you go to mediation? The short answer is that mediation can be conducted at any stage of the dispute resolution process. However, there are many different factors that can help you to determine when it is most beneficial.
First Recipient of the Executive Certificate in Conflict Management
Mediation in Barbados - interview with Peter Dreyer
“Mediation [as an alternative form of dispute resolution] is becoming more and more widely used in governments, the courts and corporations as a means of facilitating their negotiations and resolving disputes.” So says Mr. Peter Dreyer, of Stitt Feld Handy Group, the training arm of ADR Chambers, one of the largest mediation groups in Canada.
Negotiating when you have nothing to give
How can you negotiate well when you have already been committed to a limit, either by your previous actions or by someone else?
Internal Mediation Systems
Many organizations have considered trying to resolve disputes with mediation by using internal resources and staff rather than external fully independent mediators.
MANAGING ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS WITH ADR SYSTEMS
Public and private entities worldwide are increasingly using conflict management and dispute resolution procedures as a standard way of handling a wide variety of costly and disruptive conflicts, from legal or quasi-legal cases to workplace struggles to simple product and service complaints.
Understanding What Makes Conversations Difficult
The key to doing better in our challenging conversations is to begin with an understanding of what makes them challenging in the first place.
NEGOTIATING FUNDING: USING FACTS TO PERSUADE
Aboriginal organizations seeking funding from third party sources can take a page from the negotiator’s book to get better results.
A mandate for training is a mandate for survival
Governments and businesses are under enormous pressure due to the financial challenges we are experiencing internationally.
Keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs
Our learning & development budget has been cut significantly as a result of organization-wide cost-reduction initiatives. How can we still train staff and maintain our L&D line despite this?
What’s new in ADR?
Latest Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation news from around the world.
Arbitration Course in Ethiopia
I just returned from another fascinating experience teaching in Ethiopia. While I’m not yet over the jet lag (I got back last Friday), I’m also not over the excitement.
Stitt Feld Handy Group teaches ADR to Ethiopian
Alternative dispute resolution is reportedly catching on in Ethiopia-and it has a Canadian connection.