Tue, Feb 21, 2012
Strengthening Nonprofits Online Learning Suite
The developers and instructional designers at daremightythings.com have produced a very impressive self-paced learning site dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and capacity building in the nonprofit sector. The interactive and multimedia site is located at StrengtheningNonprofits.org Developed under a Health and Human Services federal grant, the project provides a broad collection of content (22 different modules) with helpful features like closed captioning of videos and print-friendly versions of materials. Lessons are nicely chunked into easily digestible pieces and interactive elements are used throughout to promote engagement with the content. This content map (pdf) provides a quick overview of the content available. Very impressive, all the more so because it is free.
Sun, Feb 19, 2012
Conflict Resolution Jobs site
Readers of this blog might be interested in some of the job listings displayed at a new site called Conflict Resolution Jobs. It was developed by Cape Cod area mediator Marsha Ostrer. The project provides a portal to job posting provided by a variety of job listing services, filtered as best possible to show only relevant jobs for people in the conflict resolution field. While not perfect, there are plenty of on target listings that are all available in one place. In addition to the broadly-focused conflict resolution page the site has separate pages for listings related to Arbitration, Facilitation, Mediation, Negotiation and Ombudsman opportunities.
Ostrer received support and inspiration to develop the site at a Cape Cod Entrepreneurship Weekend hosted by the Cape Code Chamber of Commerce.
Fri, Jan 20, 2012
University of Florida Tech-enabled Wall of Civility
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida has launched a new tech installation called the Civil Debate Wall that provides students with the opportunity to weigh in on different debatable topics and join in a discussion that is framed in a civil way. After registering their opinions on the current debate topic or in response to another prior student post, students have their picture taken by a wall mounted camera and their comments appear on one of 5 touchscreen monitors and on the project webpage found at http://www.civildebatewall.com . Comments can also be entered via the webpage but the photo option is not yet available via the web interface. The project was funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation. More details on the project are available in this story from Inside Higher Education.
Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Handbook on the Applicability of Restorative Justice and Mediation in Prisons
The Hungarian Institute of Criminology and the Foresee Research Group have released a new document that provides a training design for restorative practices in prison settings as well as offering a series of case studies detailing the use of mediation and RJ processes like group conferencing within the prison system. The 100-page report is entitled the Handbook on the Applicability of Mediation and Restorative Justice in Prisons. It is a product of the EU-funded MEREPS initiative involving 7 organizations from 4 different countries. Other publications from the project are available on the MEREPS website.
Sun, Jan 08, 2012
Conflict Coaching Session Video example
MACRO (the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office of Maryland) has posted a short video (12 minutes) providing a sample conflict coaching session produced for a professional development webinar held this past June. It demonstrates an informal and unscripted approach. You can view the session via this link - Conflict Coaching Demonstration (.wmv format). The related webinar is archived at this location (my mac wouldn’t play the webinar video for some reason, but only the audio).
Sun, Dec 18, 2011
Slate’s Negotiation Academy Podcast
Slate has just released the full 10-episode Negotiation Academy audio podcast developed by business journalists Jill Barshay and Seth Stevenson based on their coursework at Columbia Business School. It is available via iTunes as well as via an online player. A wide variety of topics are covered and often they invite comments from guest negotiation specialists. The episode list is provided below.
Ep. 1: Who Sets the Price? - Released Oct 17, 2011
In Episode 1, they discuss who should set the opening price, with a little help from Duke behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely.
Ep. 2: Schmoozing and Other Starting Tricks - Released Oct 24, 2011
In Episode 2, they discuss crucial things to do BEFORE you start batting numbers around. Their guest this week is Columbia Business School negotiation professor Aaron Wallen.
Ep. 3: The Art (and Trickery) of Persuasion - Released Oct 31, 2011
In Episode 3, they discuss several key persuasive techniques you can use in the heat of any negotiation. Their guest this week is H. Rodgin Cohen, a legendary corporate negotiator.
Ep. 4: The Ticking Clock - Released Nov 06, 2011
In Episode 4, they discuss how the physical setup of a negotiation, including the room, the refreshments, and a timed deadline, can help you get what you want. Their guest this week is veteran diplomat Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ep. 5: Dealing with Jerks - Released Nov 13, 2011
In Episode 5, they discuss how to haggle with jerks, liars, and stubborn mules. Their guest this week is Columbia Business School’s Donna Hitscherich.
Ep. 6: Closing the Deal - Released Nov 20, 2011
In Episode 6, business journalists Jill Barshay and Seth Stevenson give you tips on how to close a negotiation and get the best overall deal. Their guest this week is Lt. Jack Cambria, who heads the NYPD’s hostage negotiation team.
Ep. 7: The Gender Divide - Released Nov 24, 2011
In Episode 7, Barshay and Stevenson examine the particular challenges and advantages women have when they go into a negotiation. They also consider what men should keep in mind when facing a female negotiator.
Ep. 8: Haggling Over Real Estate - Released Dec 04, 2011
In Episode 8, Barshay and Stevenson reveal the tactics you should know when buying and/or selling real estate. It turns out these transactions can be some of the trickiest, and most emotional, you’ll ever face. Their guests are real estate agents Melissa Chen and Sam DeFran.
Ep. 9: Negotiating with Kids - Released Dec 11, 2011
In Episode 9, Barshay and Stevenson discuss when and how you should negotiate with children. Like it or not, they know the basic rules of haggling almost from birth. We hear from child psychologist Mark Sossin and Lt. Jack Cambria, of the NYPD hostage negotiation team.
Ep. 10: Your Salary, and How to Raise It - Released Dec 18, 2011
In the final episode of the series, Barshay and Stevenson discuss one of the most important negotiations many of us encounter: bargaining for our own salaries. Guests this week include Columbia Business School professor Aaron Wallen, human resources expert Greta Green-Gentile, and employment negotiator Jotham Stein.
Sat, Dec 17, 2011
Pearltree of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Links
As part of an online course I’m just finishing up I developed a collection of links on the subject of Technology Assisted Dispute Resolution, more commonly known as ODR. The collection is presented as a “pearltree” which is a kind of mindmap-style organizational tool for web resources. You can view my Online Dispute Resolution Pearltree here.
Tue, Dec 06, 2011
Mediation Video Center at Suffolk University
A new mediation and negotiation video clip collection is now available thanks to a collaboration between the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and the Suffolk University Center for Representation in Dispute Resolution. The collection primarily illustrates approaches used by mediators in civil disputes involving lawyers, but it also contains some videos of negotiation and community mediation. Also provided are links to other helpful teaching resources related to the use of video in the classroom.
Primary video collections on the site include the following:
Styles of Mediation (topic and lengths provided below)
- An age discrimination claim 4:50
- A personal injury case 5:00
- An international business dispute 4:50
- An artistic/copyright controversy 5:00
- A divorce case 3:40
- A cross cultural business dispute: Meeting with the plaintiff 5:00
- A cross cultural business dispute: Meeting with the defense 4:30
Skills and Stages of Mediation and Negotiation (restricted to ADR Instructors who request and receive a password)
Here’s the fancy promotional video that welcomes you to the site.
Sat, Nov 26, 2011
Venturing Beyond the Classroom: Volume 2 in the Rethinking Negotiation Teaching Series
Venturing Beyond the Classroom is the second edited volume to come out of a multiyear project developed to rethink the teaching of negotiation skills in short-course formats. The project is a collaboration between Hamline University’s Dispute Resolution Institute, the ADR Center Foundation (Rome), the JAMS Foundation and an impressive list of scholars who agreed to meet to explore this topic and to write about their discoveries. This second volume includes a special focus on adventure-based learning. In total there are 27 chapters plus an epilogue, so there is plenty of good content for educators looking to reinvigorate their teaching and training about negotiation. While you are at it, why not check out the 22 chapters found in the first volume (published in 2009) as well.
Venturing Beyond the Classroom is available as a book published by Hamline University’s DRI Press, or as individual chapters available for download as pdfs. As noted on the Hamline University webpage for the volume,
“Feel free to use the chapters in your teaching and training. There is no charge for use in your teaching or training provided that copies are distributed at or below cost, you notify us (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) that you are using the material and describe the context, and you provide attribution as follows: Copyright 2010 DRI Press, Hamline University School of Law, Author and Chapter Title.”
Sat, Nov 19, 2011
DiversityDNA - An Animated Video on Cultural Differences
Interfacet Training has produced a series of short videos that illustrate how we are all made up of different cultural aspects (physical, mental, and experiential) that may influence how we interact with others in the workplace.
The overview video is called DiversityDNA - at the end of this video are embedded links to elaborations on various cultural dimensions including:
Direct vs Indirect Communication
Individualism vs Collectivism
Achieved vs Ascribed Status
Low vs High Power Difference
Displays of Emotion
Task vs Relationship
The same content is available in an iPhone App or Android App. Personally, my experience with playback in the iphone App displayed on an iPad was not great, but it was designed for iPhones, not iPads, so that is perhaps understandable.
Sat, Nov 12, 2011
Crisis Mapping Overview Video from PBS
If you are interested in the growing use of online mapping tools like Ushahidi to respond to crisis and conflict, this 10-minute PBS video provides a good starting point. If you actually want to create a crowdsourced map, Crowdmap (a service from Ushahidi) is a free tool you’ll want to check out.
Watch Crisis Mapping on PBS.
Thu, Nov 10, 2011
National Mediation Board Online Grievance Mediation Training
The National Mediation Board provides dispute resolution support for the railway and airline industries. They provide training, facilitation and direct mediation services based on an interest-based bargaining model. Recently I discovered a nice learning module that introduces new users to their grievance mediation program.
In addition to a review of the overall grievance mediation process, viewers are presented with a case study example.
“Moving Expenses” - A Grievance Mediation Example
The program consists of a Flash movie containing instructional content, together with eight short video presentations (in the wmv format) offering an example of a GM session.
Convening the parties (4:55)
Presenting the case (4:46)
Issue Statement (3:49)
Interests (3:24)
Options (4:26)
Caucuses (4:36)
Consensus (7:44)
Closing (1:07)
Sun, Oct 30, 2011
U.K. Higher Education Sector Consultation on Early Resolution and Effective Complaint Handling
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator in the U.K. was established by the Higher Education Act of 2004 which mandated the appointment of an independent body to run a student complaints handling system in England and Wales. They are now conducting a consultation to gather “views from across the Higher Education sector and beyond on key and sensitive issues related to effective strategies to promote the goals of early resolution of complaints and appeals and better all-round case handling in universities.” This project is known as the Pathway 3 Consultation based on recommendations in an earlier Higher Education White Paper, Students at the Heart of the System (2011). The consultation document can be viewed here (pdf). The issues include:
- the creation of campus ombudsmen and associated support networks,
- the development of mediation on campus;
- the creation of a good practice framework for complaints and appeals processes including the incorporation of effective time-frames for handling,
- the development of an OIA ‘kite-mark’ accreditation,
- the introduction of a revised funding mechanism for the OIA Scheme which contains a case-fee element.
Feedback on the issues must be submitted by December 16, 2011 in order to receive consideration. Submissions to the consultation can be made by clicking the consultation link on the front page of the OIA website http://www.oiahe.org.uk or by writing to the OIA at Third Floor, Kings Reach, 38-50 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3AA.
International Guild of Visual Peacemakers - Ethical Code for Visual Communicators
The International Guild of Visual Peacemakers is a group of photographers, filmmakers and storytellers who are committed to a shared ethical code for visual communicators that seeks to prevent the demonization of “the other” as we tell stories and report news about conflict. Visual storytellers can get ideas for developing their own peacemaker narratives with these 10 How To’s for Visual Peacemaking featured in a IGVP blog post.
Here’s the “Actions” section of the ethical code:
ACTIONS
The way in which visual content is created directly impacts both our subjects and the outcome of the work itself. Visual peacemakers must be mindful of the person and the picture. The following actions and behaviors are essential to the visual peacemaking process—before, during, and after.
1. We research and respect the culture we are documenting.
2. We value our subjects by taking measures to interact with or involve them, and by treating storytelling and image-making as a collaboration.
3. We use discernment in candid photography and videography, and all published material, because another’s dignity and honor matters to us.
4. We inquire about how others are impacted by our images, examining the actual results of our best intentions.
5. We are intentional about highlighting common humanity through images and storytelling.
6. We explore both macro and micro factors that affect a place or people in an effort for multidimensional coverage.
7. We refrain from making an image if asked not to.
8. We foster the courage to delete some images that may reinforce destructive stereotypes, or publish them only along with other images that tell a more complete story.
9. We refine and upgrade our own vision, because well-crafted images have greater potential for effective visual peacemaking.
10. We live generously by helping others around us, wherever we are, and by volunteering to support the visual peacemaking movement with our talents and resources.
The IGVP website provides photo galleries, a photo-story builder, and featured documentaries that provide a lovely changing mosaic of ideas and images. There is a fee to make full use of the gallery and portfolio tools on the site.
Here’s a video introducing the Guild of Visual Peacemakers.
Sat, Oct 22, 2011
Governance Commons - a new project from the CRInfo team
Guy and Heidi Burgess of the Conflict Information Consortium at the University of Colorado have partnered with the One Earth Future Foundation to produce a new resource portal known as the Governance Commons focused on addressing challenges facing individuals and groups committed to good governance. A prospectus explaining the project is available here as a pdf. The core focus of the project is to provide resources and information to address a number of core challenges that make providing good governance hard work.
Governance Challenges
In addressing governance failures, the Commons focuses on improving our ability to handle nine often unmet challenges:
- Improving Security
- Limiting Violence and Intimidation
- Protecting Individual and Group Rights
- Providing Basic Human Needs
- Promoting Cooperative Relationships
- Broadening the Sense of Community
- Fostering a Sense of Fairness
- Encouraging Agreement-based Problem Solving
- Assuring Efficiency and Effectiveness