A model for proactive mediation of construction disputes

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis T. Hartman ◽  
George F. Jergeas
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Disputes ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
New Process ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Alternate Dispute Resolution ◽  
Management Contracts

Alternative dispute resolution methods remain an area of interest and study because of the continued increase in the incidence of disputes, be they claims or litigation. Practice in the industry tends to stimulate litigation if negotiation of claims is unsuccessful. At variance with this is the declared preference of construction industry practitioners for mediation over arbitration and for arbitration over litigation. Mediation has had a high success rate when used in construction dispute resolution. The cost of mediation is significantly lower than litigation or arbitration. The probability of the parties to the dispute being able to work together effectively after the dispute has been resolved is higher, and the dispute can be resolved more quickly than by arbitration or litigation. This paper presents the findings of a study undertaken to identify a better process for construction contracting. An essential part of the new process is the use of proactive mediation. Proactive mediation is the use of a mediator prior to a dispute arising to help identify and address potential problems before they become difficult or unsolvable issues. The proposed methodology has been tested through a process which obtained the input of over 60 senior industry practitioners. Key words: mediation, construction management, contracts, claims, cost reduction, alternate dispute resolution, risk management.

scholarly journals A Mechanism for Dispute Resolution in the Iranian Construction Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-226
Author(s):  
Abdollah Saeb ◽  
◽  
Mohd Suhaimi Mohd Danuri ◽  
Othman Mohamed ◽  
Norhanim Zakaria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Disputes ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Different Sources

If disputes are not resolved promptly, they tend to become prolonged and escalated, creating a more complicated and less manageable scenario. Therefore, in this study, we formulated a mechanism for dispute resolution in the Iranian construction industry based on alternative dispute resolution methods. The formulated mechanism could aid disputing parties in the construction industry to settle their disputes more effectively and enhance dispute resolution methods in construction standard forms. To achieve this goal, we collected qualitative data using semi-structured interviews with 30 experts who were selected via purposive sampling method. We used MAXQDA software to manage and organise complete interview transcripts and facilitate the qualitative data analysis process. The proposed mechanism and guidance were finally validated using the survey questionnaire. Negotiation has equal potential for dispute resolution with different sources, and it is recommended as the first step in dispute resolution with any source. According to the results, we recommend a three-step resolution mechanism as follows: negotiation, a method based on sources of disputes and a hybrid method of adjudication and arbitration (Adj-Arb), as the appropriate mechanism for dispute resolution in the Iranian construction industry. Replacing arbitration with Adj-Arb in construction standard forms will have satisfactory results in resolving construction disputes and reply to growing criticism that arbitration is becoming more like litigation.

scholarly journals An Investigation into the Significant Causes of Disputes in the Sri Lankan Construction Industry

10.29007/vbwk ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vajira Edirisinghe ◽  
Dianne Marsh ◽  
Fiona Borthwick ◽  
Alison Cotgrave
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Cost Optimization ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Construction Disputes ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Of Construction

Disputes in construction projects affect not only delay in construction progress but also its cost and potentially its quality. The construction industry of Sri Lanka contributes significantly to its economy and the cost of construction disputes can influence its economic welfare. It is important to understand the significant disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry in order to mitigate this cost. A qualitative descriptive study has been conducted through semi-structured questionnaires analyzed using a thematic approach. The sample comprised of 10-construction industry professionals all involved in the dispute resolution process. The literature identified 7 main dispute causes as being owner related, contractor related, project related, design related, contract related, human behavior related and consultant related. The interviews identified sub themes from each, which were then ranked in order to identify those that were most significant. It was found that many of the sub themes were inter related and that one cause could be the creation of another. The lack of appropriate communication between parties and lack of team spirit were identified as the genesis of disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry. The next stage of this research is to identify the dispute resolution methods specific to Sri Lanka in order to develop a framework for cost optimization of dispute resolution methods that link specifically with the causes of dispute as identified in this study.

scholarly journals Keeping up with change: no alternative to teaching ADR in clinic. An Australian perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Weinberg
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Legal Education ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Legal Practice ◽  
Law Schools ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Client Needs

<p>Over the last 30 years alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has become more prominent in Australian legal practice due to the need to reduce the cost of access to justice and to provide more expedient and informal alternatives to litigation. As legal educators, we need to ask: how should we be preparing law students entering practice for these changes? How can we ensure that once they become lawyers, our students will not rely entirely on litigious methods to assist their clients but instead look at alternatives for dispute resolution?</p><p>In this paper, I argue that there is no alternative to teaching ADR in clinic in order to address client needs and to ensure that students engaged in clinical education are prepared for changes in legal practice today. I show that the increasing focus upon ADR in Australian legal practice represents a challenge for law schools, and that legal educators need to ensure they are educating students about ADR.</p><p>I argue that it is important to determine whether ADR is being taught to students undertaking clinical legal education in ways that will enhance their preparation for legal practice. I will show that there is a need to explore: whether ADR is being taught within clinical legal education, the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches, and how the teaching of ADR within clinics can be improved.</p>

Unpacking the Dilemma of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Access to Justice by Women in the Ghanaian Context

2021 ◽  
pp. 171-189
Author(s):  
John Kwame Boateng ◽  
Ernest Darkwa
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Cultural Dynamics ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Reduction Time ◽  
Remote Areas

The chapter explores the dilemma of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and access to justice for women in Ghana. It argues that introduction and use of ADR has contributed to improving access to justice with regards to reducing delays in formal court procedures, cost reduction, time saving, opening spaces for less-resourced individuals and groups, particularly women, to have access to justice. Above all, ADR does bring access to justice systems close to remote areas, serving the needs of disadvantaged individuals including women and others who are most vulnerable. However, the weaknesses and challenges in the formal legal system, coupled with the historical and cultural dynamics of the Ghanaian society, which is patriarchal in nature, have prevented mostly women from reaping the maximum benefits of ADR. Revisiting the challenges of the justice system and the historical and cultural norms of Ghana would help increase and enhance women's access to justice through ADR.

10. Alternative Dispute Resolution

2020 ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Stuart Sime
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Third Party ◽  
The Third ◽  
Early Settlement ◽  
Court Involvement ◽  
The Third Party ◽  
The Cost

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly mediation, plays a key role in reducing the costs of civil disputes by fomenting the early settlement of cases. This chapter discusses ADR processes; advantages or disadvantages of ADR and litigation; the cost of ADR; reference to ADR; and court involvement in ADR. Adjudicative ADR results in the third party neutral deciding the dispute or difference between the parties. Non-adjudicative ADR processes involve moving the parties towards reaching a compromise agreement between themselves. Rules of court require parties to consider using ADR. Sanctions may be imposed on parties who act unreasonably.

10. Alternative Dispute Resolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Sime
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Third Party ◽  
The Third ◽  
Early Settlement ◽  
Court Involvement ◽  
The Third Party ◽  
The Cost

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly mediation, plays a key role in reducing the costs of civil disputes by fomenting the early settlement of cases. This chapter discusses ADR processes; advantages or disadvantages of ADR and litigation; the cost of ADR; reference to ADR; and court involvement in ADR. Adjudicative ADR results in the third party neutral deciding the dispute or difference between the parties. Non-adjudicative ADR processes involve moving the parties towards reaching a compromise agreement between themselves. Rules of court require parties to consider using ADR. Sanctions may be imposed on parties who act unreasonably.

COMPARISION OF ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE RESOLUTION MEASURES

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Quapp ◽  
Klaus Holschemacher
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Legal Proceedings ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Industry Practice

Construction projects often are particularly susceptible to conflicts due to their long-term character and complexity. In Germany, courts must deal with around 100,000 construction dispute litigations per year. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can be an alternative to expensive as well as time-consuming litigation and can help to relieve the judicial system. Furthermore, ADR may contribute to the satisfying settlement of a dispute between parties involved in the construction process and thus help to reach construction projects’ completion on time and within budget. Often, ADR mechanisms such as adjudication, mediation, and conciliation will be used. The paper analyzes the development of ADR in Germany in conjunction with European legal aspects. With special reference to the construction industry practice in Germany, various ADR measures and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the current situation, will be explained. The authors conclude that, although ADR in Germany has experienced an upswing since the 1990s, it is used only to a small extent for settling disputes in construction projects. An increased knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of different ADR measures in the construction industry would lead to more frequent uses of ADR. That, and a clever and detailed contract design, which helps to avoid conflicts basing on unclear contract contents, could save money and relieve the courts from time-consuming legal proceedings.

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