Mediation, Consensus Building, and Facilitation Ona Ferguson Chris Kluchman Shiona Sommerville

1. Mediation, Consensus Building and Facilitation
Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors
2011 Conference
New Bedford, MA
June 9, 2011
Communication
o Understand the importance of this “basic” skill
Sources of Land Use Disputes
o What issues underlie disputes for planners?
Key Mediation and Negotiation Concepts
o Interests and Positions
• Where does getting out interests get you?
• Can generate lots of options, trade and share interests, bigger pie, identity and core
concerns (acknowledgement, autonomy, status, etc.)
o BATNA
Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (also BATMA, … Mediated Agreement)
Importance in knowing yours and other parties’
Testing how realistic BATNA(s) are in a conversation
Sets a basis for an agreement
o Neutrality
Should planners be neutral? Why or why not?
When is it appropriate to be neutral?
Challenges to maintaining neutrality? e.g.., AICP ethics – role is to focus on the public
good
Benefits to identifying the right person to help engage people (staff, community
member, professional)
o Personal Biases
Acknowledge that there is a content/relationship tension
Why does that matter in your work?
• Your inclination influences the scope of the work/discussion with the public & others
Choosing the Right Process
o Range of different types of collaboration processes (see chart on back)
o Common Objections to collaboration and how to respond
Contact Information
Ona Ferguson, Senior Associate, the Consensus Building Institute, 617‐844‐1127,
oferguson@cbuilding.org
Chris Kluchman, Town Planner, Town of Westford, 978‐692‐5524, ckluchman@westfordma.gov
Shiona Sommerville, ssommerville@post.harvard.edu