LEGAL AFFAIRS SECTION
Oct 1, 2006

The Effective Mediator

Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 132, Issue 4

Abstract

Mediation is becoming the premier method of resolving disputes within the construction industry. The linchpin to the mediation process is the mediator. An effective mediator may make the difference between mediation success or failure. Yet, considering the importance of an effective mediator, there is a dearth of information as to the attributes of one and how to recognize and retain one. Considering the importance of mediation in the arbitration process as well as the trend toward court ordered mediation, it behooves industry members to understand the attributes of an effective mediator. This paper will discuss the skills an effective mediator needs to assist the parties in moving forward, crafting a sustainable settlement as well as leave the disputing parties and their counsel satisfied with the process and result. It will alert readers what to look for when engaging a mediator’s service and what questions need to be asked in the quest for the effective mediator to assist in the resolution of disputes.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

Aaron, M. C. (2005). “Do’s and don’t for mediation practice.” Dispute Resolut. Mag., 9(2), 19–22.
Arnold, J. A., and O’Connor, K. M. (1999). “Ombudspersons or peers? The effect of third-party expertise and recommendations on negotiation.” J. Appl. Psychol., 84(5), 776–785.
Bercovitch, J. (1992). “Mediators and mediation strategies in international relations.” Negotiation J., 8, 99–112.
Bolton, R. (1979). People skills, Simon & Schuster, New York.
Brazil, W. D. (2002). “Court ADR 225 years after Pound: Have we found a better way?” J. Dispute Resolut., 18, 93.
Carnevale, P. J. D., Lim, R. G., and McLaughlin, M. E. (1989). “Contingent mediator behavior and its effectiveness.” Mediation research, K. Kressel and D. G. Pruitt, eds., Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 213–240.
Carnevale, P. J. D., and Pegnetter, R. (1985). “The selection of mediation tactics in public-sector disputes: A contingency analysis.” J. Soc. issues, 41, 65–81.
Castrianno, L. M., Pruitt, D. G., Nochajski, T. H., and Zubek, J. M. (1988). “Complainant–respondent differences in mediation.” Paper Presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Convention, Buffalo, N.Y.
Claiborne, Z. G. (1998). “How to select a mediator.” Cost Eng., 0(2), 18–19.
Cousins, W. (2000). “Special masters.” Grynbaum’s dispute prevention update, February.
Fisher, R. (1981). “Playing the wrong game?” Dynamics of third party intervention: Kissinger in the Middle East, J. Z. Rubin, ed., Praeger, New York.
Fisher, R., and Ury, W. R. (1981). Getting to yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in, Houghton Miffin, Boston.
Folberg, J. (1983). “A mediation overview. History and dimensions of practice.” Dimensions and practice of divorce mediations, J. Lemmon, ed., Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Frei, D. (1976) “Conditions affecting the effectiveness of international mediation.” Peace Sci. Soc. (Int.) Pap., 26, 67–84.
Ginsburg, W. H. (1996). “The central role of the mediator. The performance of the mediator as a neutral facilitator, with creativity and patience is the key to a successful resolution.” For the Defense, 38(7), 17–19.
Hiltrop, J. M. (1989). “Factors associated with successful labor mediation.” Mediation Research, K. Kressel, and D. G. Pruitt, eds., Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 241–262.
Jung, C. G. (1989). Memories, dreams, reflections, A. Jaffe, ed., Vintage, New York.
Kavallo, D., and Kahneman, D. (2003). “Delusions of success: How optimism undermines executive decisions.” Harvard Bus. Rev., July, 58.
Kolb, D. M. (1985). “To be a mediator: Expressive tactics in mediation.” J. Soc. issues, 41(2), 11–26.
Lind, E. A., and Tyler, T. R. (1988). The social psychology of procedural justice, Plenum, New York.
Malpasuto, J. C. (2002). “Choosing the right mediator for a complex construction dispute.” Punch List, 25(1), 3–4.
McKinney, B. C., Kimsey, W. D., and Fuller, R. M. (1992). Mediator communication competencies, 3rd Ed., Burgess International Group, Edina Minn.
Mnookin, R., Peppet, S. R., and Tulumello, A. S. (2000). Beyond winning: Negotiation to create value in deals in disputes, Belknap, Cambridge, Mass.
Moore, C. W. (1996). The mediation process, 2nd Ed., Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Morgerman, G. (2000). “Mediation will be the prime forum for resolving construction disputes.” New York Construct. News, July, 51–52.
Ohbuchi, K., and Takahashi, Y. (1994). “Cultural styles of conflict management in Japanese and Americans: Passivity, covertness, and effectiveness strategies.” J. Appl. Soc. Psychol., 24 (15), 1345–1366.
Olekalns, M., and Smith, P. L. (2002). “Testing the relationships among negotiators motivational orientations, strategy choices, and outcomes.” J. Exp. Psychol., 39, 101–117.
Phillips, B. A. (1997). “Alternative dispute resolution symposium issue: Mediation: Did we get it wrong?” Williamette Law Rev., 33, 649.
Picker, B. G. (2002) “Breaking down barriers in negotiation through mediation.” Grynbaum’s Dispute Prevention Update, 32, 2–3.
Plapinger, E., and Stinestra, D. (1996). “ADR in the federal district courts: A practitioner’s guide.” Dispute Res. Mag., Spring, 7.
Pruitt, D. G. (1981). Negotiation behavior, Academic, New York.
Pruitt, D. G., Fry, W. R. Castrianno, L., Zubek, J., Welton, G. L., McGillicuddy, N. B., and Ippolito, C. (1987). “The process of mediation: Caucusing, control, and problem solving.” Presented as a Keynote Address, 1st Biannual Conf. of the Int. Association for Conflict Management, Fairfax, Va.
Pruitt, D. G., Peirce, R. S., Zubek, J. M., Welton, G. L., and Nochajski, T. H. (1990). “Goal achievement, procedural justice, and the success of mediation.” Int. J. Confl. Manage., 1(1), 33–45.
Pruitt, D. G., Pierce, R. S., McGillicuddy, N. B., Welton, G. L., and Castrianno, L. M. (1993). “Long-term success in mediation.” Law Hum. Behav., 17(3), 313–330.
Rifkin, J., Millen, J., and Cobb, S. (1991). “Toward a new discourse for mediation: A critique of neutrality.” Mediation Q., 9(2), 151–164.
Rubin, J. Z. (1980). “Experimental research on third-party intervention in conflict: Toward some generalizations.” Psychol. Bull., 87(2), 379–391.
Sander, F. E. A. (1995). “The obsession with settlement rates.” Negotiation J., 11, 329–331.
Schwartz, S. L. (2004). “The mediated settlement. Is it always just about the money? Rarely!” Pepperdine Resolut. Law J., 4, 309.
Shapiro, D., Drieghe, R., and Brett, J. (1985). “Mediator behavior and the outcome of mediation.” J. Soc. issues, 4(2), 101–114.
Sharp, G. (2002). “Desert Island questions for mediators.” Grynbaum’s Dispute Prevention Update, 34, 1–3.
Stevens, C. M. (1963). Strategy and collective bargaining in negotiation, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Trachte-Huber, E. (2004). “Mediating multiparty disputes: Reflections on leadership in mediation.” Pepperdine Resolut. Law J., 4, 195.
Waldman, E. A. (1997). “Identifying the role of social norms in mediation: A multiple model approach.” Hastings Law J., 48(4), 703.
Walton, R. E., and Kersie, R. B. (1965). A behavioral theory of labor negotiations, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Williams, M. (1996). “Can’t I get no satisfaction? Thoughts on the promise of mediation.” Mediation Q., 15(2), 143–154.
Wissler, R. L., and Rack, R. W., Jr. (2004). “Assessing mediator performance: The usefulness of participant questionnaires.” J. Dispute Resolut., 2004, 229.
Zerhusen, K. A. (1992). “Reflections on the role of the neutral lawyer: The lawyer as mediator.” Ky. Law J., 81, 1165–1176.
Zubek, J. M., Pruitt, D. G., McGillicuddy, N. B., Pierce, R. S., and Syna, H. (1992). “Disputant and mediator behaviors affecting short term success in mediation.” J. Conflict Resolut., 36, 546–572.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 132Issue 4October 2006
Pages: 326 - 333

History

Received: Dec 6, 2005
Accepted: Mar 27, 2006
Published online: Oct 1, 2006
Published in print: Oct 2006

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Kathleen M. J. Harmon, Ph.D.
President, Harmon/York Associates, Inc., 600 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus, NJ 07094. E-mail: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share