Government ODR
The Government ODR initiative is a National Science Foundation and National Mediation Board supported project. ODR is predicated on the notion that information technolgy and conflict management practices can be increasingly leveraged to bring enhanced dispute resolution to government. Dispute resolution is a fundamental and pervasive activity of government. It is essential that it be done in as efficient, effective and fair a manner as possible. This project proposes applying process technology to developing and evaluating dispute resolution processes through online delivery. If successful, it will improve dispute resolution, and deepen understanding of how to be more successful in developing and evaluating processes with the stringent requirements of public governance. The project focus is on the dispute resolution processes and approaches used by the National Mediation Board (NMB). The project builds on UMass research both in process technology and in dispute resolution.