Tools of the Mediation Practice

Convening Reports

Sometimes, particularly in complex or highly polarized situations, summarizing the results of the feasibility assessment (convening process) in a short memo or report helps provide all parties a common picture of how the process is expected to proceed and/or a clear focus on procedural issues that remain to be resolved. Making transparent who was consulted and how the process is expected to proceed often creates a much higher confidence in the process.

Sharing non-confidential information about the parties views of the issues also provides the parties with the full scope of the issues that are of concern, reassurance (where applicable) that their issues are “on the table” for discussion, and an early warning of where parties disagree about what they are willing to negotiate.