Wise and Equitable Collaborative Problem-Solving

2. Intractable Conflict Threat and Opportunity

Collaborative problem solving (also called "consensus building") is a conflict-resolution process used mainly to settle complex, multiparty disputes. It is widely used in the environmental and public policy arena in the United States, but is useful whenever multiple parties are involved in a complex dispute or conflict. The process allows stakeholders to work together to develop a mutually acceptable solution. Collaborative problem solving is based on the principles of local participation and ownership of decisions. Ideally, the consensus reached will meet most or all of the relevant interests of stakeholders, who thereby come to a unanimous agreement. While everyone may not get everything they initially wanted, as explained in the "Short Guide to Consensus Building," "everyone agrees they can live with the final proposal; that is, after every effort has been made to meet any outstanding interests."

Collaborative problem solving is important in today's interconnected society because many problems exist that affect diverse groups of people with different interests. Issues are interlinked, and stakeholders are increasingly interdependent, making it close to impossible for individuals or organizations to solve such complex problems on their own. And if the solution is handed down by government fiat (through a regulatory order or a court case), many parties will likely be left unhappy with the decision. The "losers" may well challenge the decision in the courts, preventing implementation of any solution for years.

Collaborative problem solving also tends to increase the quality of the solutions developed because they are based on a more comprehensive analysis of the problem. Each party has a different perspective, and therefore many more angles are considered than if a few experts or a select few people developed the solution on their own. This variety of perspectives may lead to innovative solutions The ability to participate in the problem-solving process will also enhance the parties' acceptance of the solution and willingness to implement it. The participatory process may also help strengthen the relationships between stakeholders that used to be adversaries, which can help develop mechanisms for dealing with related problems in the future.