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Learn effective strategies for online mediation, including constant communication, leveraging outside resources, and keeping parties engaged. Overcome challenges such as lack of non-verbals and misinterpreting silence. Build rapport and memorialize progress to create an optimistic tone.
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ODRmediator skills Multitasking Crafting language carefully When and how to caucus Constant communication / high touch Balancing power differentials Leveraging outside information and resources
Online mediatorchallenges Establishing rapport Strategy: help the parties make time to build connection Lack of non-verbals Strategy: repeatedly do “temperature checks” with parties Misinterpreting silence Strategy: frequent short updates to minimize delays Keeping parties engaged Strategy: memorialize progress and set an optimistic tone
OnlineActive Listening Using text vs. non-verbals Utilizing affirming language Providing quick responses Re-stating and re-framing Avoiding language that can be misinterpreted Constant communication / memorializing progress Leveraging caucusing to prove key points are heard
Process means more online Opening statements / groundrules Participant responsibilities Up front disclosure / no surprises Representation Ensure the process doesn’t take over Make the parties feel they’re calling the shots Managing an Online Process
Multiparty Public Online Dispute Resolution Colin Rule and Janet Martinez SCU Law June 23, 2019
ODR and Conflict in Communities Citizens use tech in their everyday lives They expect to use it for civic engagement Especially theyounger generation
A Spectrum of Engagement • Traditional face-to-face processes • Face-to-face plus: • Online working groups • Deliberative polling / Online voting • Web-based public participation • Fully online processes, where face-to-face meetings are inconvenient or impossible
Utility of Technology Tool Types at Each Stage of Engagement & Consensus Building Processes
Using media to help engagement YouTube and municipal TV as community engagement tools: • Overviewvideos shown at Community Forum Series, on municipal TV, on DVD, etc. • Live chat/SMS/voicemail inclusion in broadcast meetings (including Ustream) • Social Media/Facebook/Twitter as engagement channels
eDemocracy and ODR • eCommerce vs. eGovernment • B2C, C2C, B2B • A2A, A2B, A2C • Citizen services (IRS) • Information dissemination (rulemaking.gov) • Public participation (listening to the city) • Grassroots mobilizing (land mine campaign) • International dialogues
ODR and Multiparty Processes • Meeting Support • Projection / dynamic presentation systems • Real-time feedback • Brainstorming • Voting and rating tools • Electronic flip charts • Audio / Video conferencing • Online Data and Communications Management • Full-text searching • Document management systems • Online scheduling • Email broadcasts / email newsletters
ADR Technology / Internet Tools (2) • Online Interactivity • Synchronous meetings (chat, instant messaging, whiteboards) • Threaded discussion environments • Polling • Joint document editing systems • Automated negotiation mechanisms • Fully Online Dispute Resolution Processes • Online Facilitation • Online Mediation • Online Arbitration • Online Expert Evaluation
Strengths • Lightens administrative load on neutrals • Easy information dissemination • Document and information repository • Allows for both targeted and asynchronous communication • Supports in-meeting tasks • Enables participants to make progress between meetings • Can engage people across wide geographic areas where face-to-face meetings are impractical • Dynamic reframing • Concurrent caucusing
Weaknesses • Some are threatened by technology • Things can go wrong • Facilitators can lose control • Parties are more able to communicate among themselves • Mediators can overreact and misuse online power • Discussions can end up focusing on the technology and not the issues that need to be addressed • Technology may advantage some parties over others • Those with fast internet connections • Those who are comfortable with technology • Those who type fast (especially in synchronous communications)
Data Collection The process of Computer Generated Simulations starts with data collection. Photographs of the site are taken from representative viewpoints.
The Modeling Process We know the exact locations of these surveyed points and one point out of this view.
Example Turbines on 80 m towers with 100 m rotors
Inform (e.g. Public Education) Consult (e.g. Public Input) Advise (e.g. Regulatory Negotiation) Decide (e.g. Multi-Stakeholder Process) Implement (e.g. Cleanup Monitoring) TYPES OF MULTIPARTY PROCESSES
Misleading information spread to the public Undisclosed conflicts of interest Input selectively edited to favor a particular outcome Sponsorship of process/facilitator conflicts not disclosed Information gathered not acted upon/utilized/widely shared inform/consult ethical dilemmas
Stakeholder group excludes key stakeholders Use of technology advantages some participants over others Confidential information shared with unauthorized parties Alternate communication channels opened without approval Final outcome unrepresentative of all participants Advise/decide ethical dilemmas
Execution not in line with prior agreements from stakeholders Implementation plan changed without full disclosure No transparency around Key Performance Metrics (KPIs) Additional parties given authority to make changes Data collected not shared amongst all stakeholders implement ethical dilemmas
Multiparty process to try to diagnose why so many honeybee colonies in Central CA are declining in population and productivity. SCENARIO: WHAT ABOUT THE BEES? Stakeholders: apiary owners, farmers, environmental groups, regulators, pesticide companies, community members
Case 1: Public Outreach An advocacy group representing local farmers is suspected of “astroturfing” by using fake accounts to suggest that the data about declining populations is made up by environmentalists SCENARIO: WHAT ABOUT THE BEES?
Case 2: Unequal Access Environmental groups and farmers say their bandwidth limitations disadvantage them in online meetings taking place over videoconferencing SCENARIO: WHAT ABOUT THE BEES?
Case 3: Bad Data It is suspected that pesticide companies have been entering inaccurate data into online shared monitoring databases to minimize the scope of the problem and not trigger penalties SCENARIO: WHAT ABOUT THE BEES?
Conclusions • Public Dispute Resolution sponsors, providers, and participants will come to use technology more extensively • The tools will become more sophisticated • More user friendly • Better integrated and tested for stability • Improved support materials (help files, user manuals) • Users will become more comfortable with technology • Parties will come to expect that online interactionoptions will be available to them • Funders will ask for online components in proposals • Technology decisions need to be well considered and thought out thoroughly in advance of implementation