NCJ Number
123099
Journal
Mediation Quarterly Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1989) Pages: 175-189
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Mediation as an approach to conflict resolution benefits from both the process of bringing adversaries together and from the specific outcome.
Abstract
This article is on dispute resolving, whereas other related literature dealing with computer-aided counseling usually emphasizes the dispute-preventing purpose. Multiple alternatives and multiple criteria in an easily manipulated spreadsheet format lead to super-optimum solutions that exceed the original best expectations of the disputants. The same processes can be applied to computer-aided mediation, computer-aided counseling, negotiating, advocating, evaluating, predicting, assigning of people to tasks, sequencing of events, and other related tools and tasks. Although achieving superoptimum solutions may not require the assistance of computers, computer assistance can facilitate such solutions, assisting those who are not experts to increase their skill level and enabling experts to do even better. 1 table, 2 figures, 6 notes, 19 references. (Author abstract modified)