The third edition of Party-Directed Mediation: Facilitating Dialogue between Individuals is now online as a free PDF download. The book explains two mediation models in depth. The first model is used to deal with conflicts among peers; the second, disputes between superiors and subordinates.

The book is an effort to present practical, research-based ideas with the aim of leading to the improved management of deep-seated interpersonal conflict as well as multiethnic conflicts.

While many of the concepts were originally developed through research in agriculture and agri-business firms, the methods (Party-Directed Mediation and Negotiated Performance Appraisal) have since drawn the interest of a wide range of people throughout the world.

The methods used require more time than traditional mediation, but are particularly well suited to volunteer mediators, intercultural conflicts when issues of saving face are important, and other conflicts in which emotional factors are high.

This approach is especially geared to help parties who will continue to live or work together after the mediator goes home and need to learn interpersonal negotiation skills for handling future differences. The third edition is full of photographs and important refinements.

Click here to view the online version. Hard copies of the book will go on sale later this year. PD

—From University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources news release