Key CPM (Conflict Prevention & Management) Principles

Managing conflicts and disputes

• Maintain an open process
• Provide sufficient opportunities for parties to understand issues and comment
• Maintain early, continuous involvement
• Provide early and sufficient notification
• Work toward a joint ownership of process and result
• Stay in tune with various stakeholders' concerns

Facilitating an open decision-making process

• Listen
• Ask clarifying questions
• Stay open to options
• Take a break when emotions or discussions escalate

Selecting effective outreach techniques

• Use scoping analysis to determine best process or methods
• Techniques depend on audience, situation, issues, time, and objectives desired
• Constantly monitor and evaluate effectiveness of techniques

Communicating under pressure

• Stay open to new ideas
• Keep everyone posted
• Develop effective methods to resolve issues
• Determine what the underlying issues and concerns are
• Address issues not personalities

Meeting planning

• Consider meeting format for effectiveness
• Consider purpose/goals for meeting
• Consider agenda/coordination necessary
• Consider comfortable setting for the meeting
• Remember to follow-up on action items

Public Involvement Process Structure

Involving the many interests that are often labeled "the public" requires designing a unique process for each situation. However, the flow of information is an essential part of any process. The following graphic is designed to demonstrate how information can be shared and how it connects to various stakeholders.