As we’ve discussed, the goal of the resolution process is to uncover the real interests and needs that the parties have. These interests are what must be met in order for the parties to walk away feeling satisfied.
Once we've made a list of those interests, we brainstorm options for meeting them. We then move into the evaluative phase, in which we determine whether each option is desirable and feasible for the parties.
This involves considering questions such as:
We can set priorities by any number of factors, the first of which needs to be the importance to both parties. Once that is considered, the list can be organized based on other priorities
EXAMPLE
In some situations, time might be a factor. You would then look at list and determine if there are some things that need to be done before others because of certain time constraints or deadlines.So depending on the context, there are a variety of factors that can help us organize options by priority.
Once we set the priorities, we want to interlink these options. This means showing the collaborative relationship between the parties. We can do that simply by how we state the options or how we word the agreements.
Interlinking options can phrased as “Party A is agreeing to do x to meet Party B's need, and Party B will do y to meet Party A's need.”
In this phrasing, we have actually stated the commitments that the parties have agreed to in a way that shows the collaborative nature of the solution.
IN CONTEXT
Let’s say Party A is a landlord, and Party B is a tenant. They might be in conflict over a payment of the rent, needed repairs, or any number of things. Perhaps as they begin to prioritize, getting the rent on time every month is deemed most important for the landlord. Whereas for the renter, making sure plumbing repairs get done in the bathroom is at the top of his list.
As the intervener, you would help the parties write this up in a way that shows the collaborative nature of the agreement: “The tenant will pay the rent by no later than the 10th of every month to meet the landlord’s need, and the landlord will repair the plumbing in the bathroom to meet the tenant’s need.”
They may also have a particular deadline or timeline for making those repairs happen, which would also be written into this agreement. After interlinking the most highly prioritized options, you would continue down the list of priorities.
When interlinking options, the key is to be very specific in terms of what each party is agreeing to do. We want to state the options in a way that shows how the joint interests are being met.
Source: Adapted from Sophia tutorial by Marlene Johnson.
