March 2000 #2
Welcome to my second newsletter. Again, the idea is to
provide access to interesting information about conflict
management, and some other odds and ends. This month
the emphasis is on multicultural issues.
Each month will be different. I'll provide links to
interesting articles and web sites. There will be book
reviews, humor, stories, quotes and news from
Southern Africa.
Over 30 people responded to my request to subscribe for my
newsletter through eGroups. Thanks! My hope is that
everyone on my email list will eventually sign up.
All you have to do is send a blank email to
conflictmanagement-subscribe@egroups.com
I welcome feedback and suggestions for improvement.
John Ford
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Articles
Cultural Issues in Mediation: Individualist and Collectivist Paradigms.
By Walter A. Wright
Every mediation has a unique character influenced by the
cultural perspectives of its participants. When issues based
on individual rights or strong group identification arise in a
mediation, a mediator's awareness of individualist and collectivist
paradigms can help surmount cultural barriers to an agreement.
http://www.mediate.com/articles/wright.cfm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Announcements
Is every mediation muticultural?
Northern California Mediation Association (NCMA)
6th Annual Conference
March 18, 2000 Emeryville, California
The keynote speaker is Roberto Chené, (Director of the
Southwest Center for Intercultural Leadership.) who will
speak on mediation and multiculturalism and lead a workshop entitled:
"Building a Multicultural Organization from the foundation up."
Another workshop will focus on the impact of
multiculturalism in regard to decision making.
For more information visit the NCMA web site at:
http://www.mediators-ncma.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Training Evaluation Tool
Trans-Measure is a tool that provides trainers with a simple,
user friendly means of systematically measuring and
improving employee transfer of training from the learning
setting to the job.
It requires clearly identified learning objectives (or tasks that
employees will be able to perform) and links them to a series
of 4 questions that are sent to trainees six months after the
training.
1. Did you know how to perform this task before you took
the seminar? Yes/No
2. Do you remember how to perform this task? Could you
perform it today if asked? Yes/No
3. How often do you perform this task on the job?
Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, never
4. How important is it to your success and the success of the
organization that you perform this task efficiently?
Very Important, important, somewhat important, not very,
unimportant.
The tool allows statistical data to be generated, such as the
prior knowledge rate, the transfer of training rate, and the
organizational value added rating.
If you would like a copy of the 10 page tool send me an
email( johnford@mediate.com) and I will send it to you as an
attachment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. News from Southern Africa
Burundi Peace Bid Underway:
Mandela's approach as the new mediator has brought
Burundi's civil war out of obscurity, and his dynamism and
charm have given an impetus to the long-stalled negotiations.
Sowetan, 20000222
Mandela To Submit Peace Plan For Burundi:
Mandela said yesterday he would submit a draft peace plan
to Burundi's divided leaders in a bid to find a quick end to
a civil war which has cost 200 000 lives since 1993.
US President Bill Clinton earlier urged Burundians to find
peace or face "a disaster", and said he feared the war could
spread beyond Burundi's borders if a solution was not found.
Clinton joined the talks in a two-way video link from the
White House at Mandela's request.
Business Day, 20000223,
Mandela Back In SA From Burundi:
Mandela left Burundi peace talks in Arusha yesterday, but he
has already given the negotiators plenty to do and to think
about. Some of the delegates were shocked by the frank
language of their new mediator, but have nevertheless agreed
to two of Mr Mandela's suggestions to speed the peace
process up. They have agreed that the facilitation team
should help draft an outline peace plan, including compromise
proposals on the sticking points. Delegates also agreed to
set up a "guarantee committee" to ensure implementation
of an eventual peace deal.
Pretoria News 20000224,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Interesting web sites
Looking for reasonably priced conflict resolution books?
ABEBooks is an option to consider. Think of them
as an online second hand book store. I picked up Augsberger's
"Conflict Resolution across Cultures" for $10, and Ury's new
"Getting to Peace" for $14.
http://www.abebooks.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Quotes
"Good cultural analysis seeks to identify what forms of
power and influence are most likely to be used by whom
and in which situations"
Chris Moore and Peter Woodrow, Mapping Culture
Track Two, Vol 8 No.1 July 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
7. New Books
Business Dispute Resolution: Best Practices,
System Design & Case Management
by Thomas D. Cavenagh
The book provides the businessperson with all
of the information necessary to create an
effective dispute resolution program through
careful overviews of both litigation and alternative
dispute resolution, including assessments of the
strengths and weaknesses of each for the resolution
of business disputes. In addition, the book provides
chapter-length descriptions of successful and innovative
dispute resolution programs in place at several companies,
large and mid-size, public and governmental, including
BP Amoco, Georgia-Pacific, Darden Restaurants, Dollar
General Corporation and the United States Postal Service.
The book contains extensive dispute resolution program
operating documents from each of the companies profiled,
including contract clauses, employee handbook provisions
and sample ADR agreements. Finally, excerpted legal
decisions are provided in each chapter to provide the reader
with an understanding of the law of ADR.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
8. John Ford's Monthly Newsletter
To subscribe and unsubscribe
Send a blank email to:
conflictmanagement-subscribe@egroups.com
conflictmanagement-unsubscribe@egroups.com
To review previous newsletters on the web:
http://www.egroups.com/list/conflictmanagement/