Services Provided

DIS provides services that include mediation, arbitration, fact finding, and facilitation to assist the various parties/factions address their needs in an open forum and ultimately collaboratively resolve their differences. DIS also provides alternative dispute resolution (ADR) training oriented to helping the parties devise processes that are specific to their organizational needs. DIS has been an approved vendor of ADR services by the General Services Administration (GSA) under contract number GS-15F-0035K beginning in December 1999.

Mediation

In mediation, DIS serves as a neutral third party assisting disputing parties in reaching an agreement. DIS professionals are skilled in various mediation processes including directive, evaluative and transformative mediation techniques. DIS helps the parties through principled negotiation by assisting them with defining the issues in a structured, group problem-solving context. DIS renders support to the parties in coming to an agreement through consensus decision making.

DIS can also aid the parties to: develop behavioral ground rules; identify issues and facilitate their discussion; identify interests and underlying issues; evaluate objective criteria to evaluate options; generate options to address interests; evaluate each option against criteria; agree on options for implementation; and draft and finalize agreements.

Arbitration

DIS provides arbitration services as well. Mr. Scott is skilled in hearing procedures in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. As such, he is able to hear the parties’ claims and render a reasoned decision. Mr. Scott is also a member of the American Arbitration Association commercial panel in San Francisco, California.

Fact finding

DIS engages in fact finding at the request of the parties. Mr. Scott is a skilled investigator and has experience as an Administrative Judge empowered to hear testimony from witnesses and determine and report facts concerning a particular event, situation, or dispute.

Facilitation

During facilitation, DIS endeavors to serve as the parties’ process consultant. DIS assists the parties with using the tools and techniques of interests based negotiations (IBN) through each of the process stages. DIS is present to remind the parties of the behavioral ground rules agreed upon between them. DIS works to ensure that full participation in the discussions takes place between the parties. During the process, DIS will restate, paraphrase, and summarize the parties’ positions to keep the discussions clear and focused. DIS serves as the conduit that keeps the parties focused on the process as well. DIS additionally observes group dynamics and facilitates constructive behavior while assisting the parties in improving how they work together throughout the process.

Training

DIS provides training in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), interests-based approaches to dispute resolution, and in conflict resolution. DIS additionally supplies training in the federal sector EEO process and training for Agency representatives at EEOC hearings. Sexual harassment training is also available. DIS is skilled in tailoring training to meet the parties’ needs.