The Ombuds Blog: List of Leading Dispute Resolution Processes Omits Ombuds

November 12, 2008

List of Leading Dispute Resolution Processes Omits Ombuds

An article at Mediate.com provides brief descriptions of the most common dispute resolution processes:

Arbitration
Collaborative Practice
Facilitation
Mediation
Parenting Coordination

(Mediate.com.)

Ombuds are notably absent from this list despite the fact that the website has featured several articles (by Michael Eisner, Rick Russell, Marsha Wagner, and Ethan Katsch), and even videos (by Howard Gadlin) about Ombuds. Ombuds are certainly as well established in the ADR firmament as collaborative practitioners and parenting coordinators. They really should have been included.

1 comment:

Anonymous11/13/2008 9:28 AM
Tom, you're right...although I am struggling over whether they meant methods of actual resolution rather than identifying types of practitioners who utilize these methods...e.g., mediation, facilitation, and collaboration, rather than arbitrators, collaborative practioners and ombudsmen. Or, they may have tried to include ombudsmen into the broad definition of "collaborative practice."

Cheers, Indu
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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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