Resolution Models

Conflict resolution is not a single process — it is a family of approaches, each suited to different types of disputes, relationships, and contexts. Understanding the major resolution models available — and the principles and assumptions underlying each — helps practitioners and individuals choose the approach most likely to be effective for a given situation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method.

This subtopic provides a practical overview of the key conflict resolution frameworks: interest-based negotiation and the principled negotiation approach developed at Harvard, transformative mediation that focuses on empowerment and recognition rather than settlement, restorative approaches that prioritise relationship repair and accountability, adjudicative processes that impose an outcome through arbitration or formal adjudication, and collaborative problem-solving models used in team and organisational settings. You will find guidance on the strengths and limitations of each model, the conditions under which each tends to work best, and how elements of different approaches can be combined for complex disputes that do not fit neatly into any single framework.

Knowing which resolution model to apply — and why — is a foundational skill for anyone who regularly navigates conflict. These articles give you both the conceptual map and the practical guidance to use it.