Mediation Terms and Definitions

Binding A legally enforceable decision or agreement resulting from a dispute resolution process. Facilitator A person competent in the use of dispute resolution who provides a neutral's services to groups (usually more than two) involved in a dispute or conflict. Policy Dialogue Informal discussion of public policy issues incorporating many different interested parties. This process usually clarifies key issues, and increases understanding between groups that are often publicly opposed to one another Conciliation This term has significantly different definitions depending upon the context. It refers to substantially different processes in federal and state statutes pertaining to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), domestic relations court, and public employee collective bargaining procedures. Dispute Resolution (DR) A studied approach or procedural framework that analyzes the means by which disputes are handled within an organization. Conflict Management A philosophy and set of skills designed to assist people in better understanding and dealing with conflict as it arises in all aspects of our lives. Settlement Week A court and bar sponsored mediation awareness program in which volunteer mediators assist litigants and attorneys in exploring ADR opportunities for settling civil cases. Many courts in Ohio hold settlement weeks. Dispute System Design A studied approach or procedural framework that analyzes the means by which disputes are handled within an organization. Appropriate dispute resolution processes are then instituted to handle the specific types of issues that arise in an organization. Alternative (or Appropriate) Dispute Resolution (ADR) Used narrowly to refer to a set of alternatives to litigation including mediation, arbitration, and summary jury trials. Used broadly it refers to all methods which resolve conflicts between parties by a means other than an adversarial or judicial process. Consensus method of seeking the resolution of a multiple-party conflict or dispute, relying upon equal participation of all parties. The end goal is to develop an agreement, usually without voting, that all of the participants can live with.

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	Did You Know?
	Alternative Dispute Resolution describes problem-solving processes Alternative Dispute Resolution describes problem-solving processes that promote creative solutions to disputes that are unavailable in traditional dispute resolution forums. May include a specialist