Prioritizing Practice in Ombudsman and ADR Programs

Abstract

This article examines ways in which the Office of the Ombudsman/Center for Cooperative Resolution (OO/CCR) at the National Institutes of Health pursues activities that comprise an orientation toward practice and supports development of an “activist” ombudsman orientation. The article opens by describing challenges that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) organizations face, contrasts them with the experience of OO/CCR, details elements of a practice orientation as experienced at OO/CCR, and suggests ways in which ADR and ombudsman organizations may address their own challenges and pursue a practice orientation.

State of Knowledge: Conflict Coaching Theory, Application, and Research

“…Clients, sponsors, and practitioners are encouraged to partner with researchers to evaluate conflict coaching intervention efforts. The ongoing widespread use of conflict coaching in the ombuds field and the recognition that practice is shaped in part by each individual style (Gadlin ) and academic background (Michael ) suggest the opportunity for study. The data collected by the NIH OO/CCR, though limited (Michael ), could be a valuable source of insights.…”