Critical Comparative Evaluation Of Two Of Two Of The Dispute Analysis Models From Furlong

Critical Comparative Evaluation Of Two Of Two Of The Dispute Analysis Models From Furlong

Introduction

This is a handbook for conflict resolution practitioners aimed at helping them understand and analyze conflict more effectively in their work. To this end, this handbook introduces a number of conflict analysis models that are useful and practical in diagnosing conflict and understanding the dynamics of conflict in many different situations. First of all, who is a "practitioner"? In other words, who might benefit from using and applying some of these models? Since this Handbook is focused on the nature of the conflict resolution process itself (which includes mediation as a large and significant subset of the conflict resolution field) we are not limited to "professional" practitioners. Conflict is a daily experience for most people, and in that sense, we are all practitioners when it comes to conflict resolution. Therefore, these models should be useful and applicable for all people who deal with conflict as a regular part of their job or life. In other words, these models and tools should be useful for anyone interested in improving their understanding of the causes and dynamics of conflict, and how to better manage them. For sake of simplicity, this Handbook will use "mediators" and "practitioners" interchangeably to mean "people who deal with and manage conflict".

The Nature and Structure of Practice Professions

It's instructive to first take a look at the specific nature of what we call a "practice" profession. A practice profession, quite simply, is a profession (or segment of a profession) aimed at helping individual people solve specific functional problems. It is distinguished here from professions (or segments of a profession) that focus more generally on research and theoretical applications of knowledge. There are numerous professions that have a significant practice component to them, professions as diverse as medicine and law, ranging all the way to technical professions such as civil engineering and even auto repair. The nature of every practice profession is that the first critical skill the practice professional must have is the ability to diagnose, the ability to determine the root cause of a specific problem.

If diagnosis is the first key ability for a practice professional, it's important to understand how the diagnosis process works, and where it fits for the practitioner. In general, most diagnosis has its roots in the theoretical background knowledge of the field. For example, once a mechanic understands the theory that the transmission of a car is responsible for sending power to the wheels, if a car won't move while the engine is running, the mechanic starts looking at the transmission as the source of the problem. Once a doctor understands the digestive tract and what functions it performs, when a patient presents with abdominal pain immediately after eating food, the doctor will start investigating the digestive system first. Some theoretical knowledge is therefore necessary for good diagnosis ...