ADR Technique: Multiple Techniques

How the ADR System Works
As part of recent organizational changes in the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget, the Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR) was established under the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance and Management. The Department's Dispute Resolution Specialist, serves as the Director of the new CADR office. The CADR office is a centralized resource and will work with all Bureaus and offices to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive Departmental policy on the appropriate and effective use of early cooperative efforts, consensus-building techniques, and alternative dispute resolution processes in support of Department and Bureau missions. The office will facilitate intra-agency coordination, communication strategies, development of training curricula, establish minimum qualification standards for third party neutrals, disseminate information and knowledge on ADR and monitor and report to the Secretary of the Interior on implementation and effectiveness of all agency ADR plans. The use of ADR is encouraged to address all areas of the Department's efforts, including workplace, programmatic, contracts and regulations.

In February 2002, a team, made up of representatives of the Bureaus, functional areas and the unions was formed to design an interest-based system in a collaborative manner. The team was charged through a formal charter to develop an integrated and unified workplace dispute resolution system to which every employee will have access. Design of the system, the InterioResolutioNetwork, was completed in October 2002. Upon implementation, it will define lines of responsibility and coordinate relationships among existing functions to promote the full integration of collaborative approaches and maximum use of problem solving techniques.

Background/Objective
The ADR policy was adopted to reduce the time, cost, inefficiencies, and contentiousness associated with litigation and other adversarial dispute resolution mechanisms. It encourages the use of ADR techniques by the Bureaus to achieve mutually acceptable solutions to disputes, to foster the cooperative development of regulations, and to avoid conflicts and disputes whenever possible. Each Bureau was given discretion to tailor its ADR plan and policy to meet its own needs and circumstances.

Duration/Current Activity
It is expected that the new InterioResolutioNetwork will be implemented by April 2002. Implementation teams are being formed to flesh out the work of the Design Team and ensure that the new system can be effectively and efficiently carried out throughout the Department. The agency will continue to advocate for greater use of ADR techniques by the Bureaus wherever practicable, with more oversight and quality control by the CADR office. Services for ADR will be delivered in a more coordinated manner with an emphasis on more collaborative approaches to problem-solving.

Rules Governing the Activity
The agency published its interim ADR policy on June 13, 1994, 59 Fed. Reg. 30368, and its final ADR Policy on August 2, 1996, 61 Fed. Reg. 40424. There are several internal ADR program issuances and directives.

Contact
M. Elena Gonzalez, Director, Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 5258, Washington, D.C. 20240; Telephone: (202) 273-2237; Fax: (202) 482-3179; Email: Elena_Gonzalez@ios.doi.gov.