Teamwork Makes the Dream Work:
Collaboration, Consensus, and Dispute

Resolution

PARTICIPANTS GUIDE

Published by:

U.S. EPA Region 4
Environmental Justice and Children's Health Section

Environmental Justice Academy

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,
Consensus, and Dispute Resolution

Module 4
Participants Guide

Table of Contents

Preparation Materials	1

Icon Key	2

Agendas	3

Module 4 Day 1	3

Module 4 Day 2	4

Module 4 Day 1	5

Module 4 Day 1: Welcome Back	6

Module 4 Day 1: Close the Gap Recap: Module 3	6

Module 4 Day 1: Homework Review	6

Module 4 Day 1: Course Introduction	7

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to Collaboration	7

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 2: Collaborative Formats	10

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 3: Scenario and Role Play Introduction	14

15-Minute Break	15

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 4: World Cafe Role Play	15

Module 4 Day 1: Closing	16

Module 4 Day 2	17

Module 4 Day 2: Welcome Back	18

Module 4 Day 2: Scenario Recap	18

Module 4 Day 2: Reflections on World Cafe and Further Development of Role

Play Activities	18

10-Minute Break	18

Module 4 Day 2: Lesson 5: Open Space Role Play	18

40-Minute Break	19

Module 4 Day 2: Tools and Philosophies (Appreciative Inquiry and Interest-

Based Negotiation)	19

Module 4 Day 2: Lesson 6: Interest-Based Negotiation	19

Module 4 Day 2: Summary: Synopsis of Day 1 and 2	20

Appendices	21

Appendix A: Additional Resources	22

Appendix B: Collaborative Characteristics of Meeting Formats	23

Appendix C: Develop Scenario for Role Play Exercise	24

Appendix D: Appreciative Inquiry Workshop in the Proctor Creek Community of

Atlanta, Georgia	26

Appendix E: Collaborative Problem-Solving Element 3	29

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,	Module 4

Consensus, and Dispute Resolution	Participants Guide

Additional Notes:

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,
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Module 4
Participants Guide

Preparation Materials

Participant Guide Icons and Agendas

vvEPA

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,
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Module 4
Participants Guide

Icon Key

Icon

Title

Meaning

0

I

Instructions
to the
facilitator

This icon means there are specific instructions for the
facilitator. This content should not be read aloud.





Background
for the
facilitator

This icon indicates that there is background information
the facilitator should be aware of when covering this
topic. This information is presented in the facilitator's
guide.

"



Facilitator
says

This icon means the facilitator should read the content
nearly verbatim, interjecting thoughts when appropriate.

a



Key point

This icon indicates an important point that the facilitator
should communicate to the audience in their own words.

z

1

Questions

This icon means the facilitator should allow time for the
audience to ask questions or the facilitator should ask the
audience questions.

D
Q



Activity

This icon indicates an activity that the facilitator should
explain. The activity can be either a group or individual
activity.



Assessment

This icon indicates the facilitator will conduct an
assessment.

-



Multimedia

This icon indicates the facilitator will have students watch
a video.

IS



Computer

This icon indicates the facilitator will have students visit
an online resource.

n



Handouts or

resource

materials

This icon indicates the facilitator will give students a
handout or other resource material.

H



Homework

This icon indicates a homework assignment.

C



Transition

This icon indicates the facilitator will provide a transition
from one topic to another.

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,
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Aqendas

Module 4 Day 1	

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration, Consensus, and Dispute
Resolution

Date:

Time:

Location:

Contact:

Time Day 1 Facilitator



Getting Started

•	Welcome back

•	Overview of module 3





Introduction

•	Panel introduction

•	Module 4 synopsis/agenda





Lesson 1—Introduction to Collaboration

•	What it is

•	What it isn't

•	Collaboration as conflict resolution

•	Why is it worth it?

•	Why do conflicts occur?





Lesson 2—Collaborative Formats

•	World cafe

•	Open space





Lesson 3: Scenario and Role Play Introduction

•	Review of world cafe format

•	Role play activity

•	Questions and answers





Break





Lesson 4—World Cafe Role Play





Closing

•	Short introduction to day 2

•	Thanks and closing of session



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Module 4 Day 2	

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration, Consensus, and Dispute
Resolution

Date:

Time:

Location:

Contact:

Time

Day 2

Facilitator



Welcome Back

•	Sign in

•	Housekeeping





Scenario Recap





Lesson 5—Reflections on World Cafe

• Further development of role play activities





Break





Tools vs. Philosophies (Appreciative Inquiry and Interest-
Based Negotiation)





Lesson 6—Interest-Based Negotiation Discussion

•	Review of interest-based negotiation

•	Questions and answers





Summary

•	Discuss role plays

•	Review of all topics discussed





Closing Remarks

• Question and answer session



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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration,
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Module 4 Day 1

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration, Consensus, and Dispute
Resolution

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Module 4 Day 1: Welcome Back	

Objectives: Welcome back to the EJ Academy.

Sign the class roster and ensure that the points you have earned are annotated on your
participant points matrix.

Module 4 Day 1: Close the Gap Recap: Module 3	

Objectives: Briefly review the goals of module 3.

H Module 3 Overview

To develop competitive and sustainable economies, communities must have
the capacity to plan for and take advantage of economic opportunities. This involves
building the capacity of three interdependent elements—individual leaders,
organizations, and the community. Capacity-building helps people work strategically
toward goals and is vital to improving underserved communities.

Community capacity-building and leadership development for communities includes
helping communities build skills and experience, increasing opportunities for
development, and enhancing community involvement in decisions. Professional and
organizational development in these areas is essential for an organization or
community to run well and grow. Sharing knowledge, building leadership skills, and
gaining tools and techniques helps leaders and community members respond
effectively to their community's needs.

Module 4 Day 1: Homework Review	

Module 3 Homework

You should be able to use the tools from module 3 that helped you define your
leadership style and identify opportunities to develop an action plan for yourself
and your community.

?

Discussion Points

•	What was the most important concept you learned from module 3?

•	What concepts were easy to understand?

•	What concepts were more difficult to understand?

•	What concepts resonated with you?

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• How will you use the information you learned to assist your community?

Module 4 Day 1: Course Introduction	

Objectives: Review the agenda for module 4.

Introduction

You will meet the panel and then review the agenda and synopsis for module 4.

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to Collaboration	

Objectives: The purpose of this lesson is to discuss collaboration and its importance
when interacting with others in a team, group, or community.
Collaboration is a way to prevent conflict when addressing
environmental challenges.

Introduction to Collaboration

What Is Collaboration?

Collaboration can be a formal or informal process of bringing diverse parties together to
seek consensus. Collaboration can be anything from a few people working together
informally to a formal, large-scale, multi-party process. Collaboration is both an attitude
and an approach:

•	Attitude: How we work with others and look for opportunities for cooperation.

•	Approach: The processes and skills we use to collaborate.

Collaboration is essential to getting our work done; we should rely on many other
parties for input, decisions, and implementation. Engaging stakeholders (module 5) is
key to much of our work and collaborating with them effectively is important.
Collaborative skills are essential to successfully planning projects, engaging
stakeholders, and producing positive outcomes.

^ What Is Not Collaboration?

Collaboration is:

•	Not a fad. It has been around quite a while and it's here to stay—because it
works.

•	Not a compromise.

•	Not a "buy-in."

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In a collaboration, we are not merely trying to convince others of a decision that has
already been made.

jQ Collaboration as Conflict Resolution

Although the terms "collaboration" and "conflict resolution" may seem to refer to
two different activities, similar skills and tools are used for both. The Office of
Management and Budget/Council on Environmental Quality 2012 memorandum on
environmental collaboration and conflict resolution explicitly encourages appropriate
and effective environmental collaboration and the use of all environmental collaboration
and conflict management techniques to minimize or prevent conflict.1

Key Definitions:

•	Collaborative problem-solving is a category of approaches in which parties
frame whatever challenge they face as a mutual problem to be solved together,
often by consensus.

•	Consensus building is a series of voluntary approaches that generally find
participants seeking a mutually agreeable resolution of differences. There are a
wide range of tools to achieve this end.

•	Alternative dispute resolution is defined under federal law as "any procedure
that is used to resolve issues in controversy, including, but not limited to,
conciliation, facilitation, mediation, factfinding, mini-trials, arbitration, and use of
ombuds, or any combination thereof."2

A Why It's Worth It

Collaboration takes effort and can be time consuming. However, the effort is
worth it, as we are seeking long-term decisions that require significant interaction so
that we achieve true ownership with stakeholders. Ownership is not the same as
agreement; we are not seeking buy-in. Ownership is taking full responsibility and being
accountable for your role. Collaborations seek to create joint solutions, and easily
implementable, sustainable decisions, not merely convince others of a decision that
has already been made.

1	Office of Management and Budget and President's Council on Environmental Quality. (2012). Memorandum
on environmental collaboration and conflict resolution.

https://www.enerav.gov/sites/default/files/OMB CEQ Env Collab Conflict Resolution 20120907-2012.pdf

2	Definition: "Alternative means of dispute resolution." 5 U.S.C. § 571(3) (1990).
htt ps://www. I aw. co rn e 11. ed u/uscod e/text/5/5 71

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n

j Discussion Points

• • Why is collaboration worth the effort?

•	What are some concerns about collaborating?

^	Why Conflicts Occur

In environmental justice scenarios, people and organizations often face
challenges in reaching agreements. Some of the factors that contribute to conflicts
include:

Differences in personality, communication, or culture.

Varying agendas.

Inflexible postures.

Perceived or real imbalance of power.

Historic animosity.

Confusion over who should be at the table.

Disagreements over very complex issues.

4 4 Case Study Review

" Review the Proctor Creek case study in Appendix D. Break into small
groups, read the case study, and answer the following questions. Each group should
select a group facilitator and someone to report the team's responses.

•	What strategies are being used in this story?

•	What could have been done differently?

•	What impact did collaboration have on the outcome?

Spectrum in Time: Stages of Conflict

Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Distinctions

• Upstream models of building consensus focus on forming collaboratives,
innovation teams, and problem-solving structures before a dispute or conflict
has even arisen.

o This is where we can practice conflict prevention and collaboration. You want
to start upstream if you can.

•	Midstream models are when disputes or conflicts are in their beginning phases
but have not yet progressed to a point where resolution or innovation is less
possible.

o No litigation, yet far from preventing conflict. Most of the class participants
are probably at this point.

Challenges may go on a long time.

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• Downstream is where the matter has turned to conflict or has worsened to the
point that litigation is being contemplated or pursued,
o Downstream is where you may need a mediator or neutral third party,
o It's not necessary to be able to name where you are, but it's important to
know when you may need the help of a trained mediator.

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 2: Collaborative Formats	

Objectives: Learn about three formats that you can use to promote collaboration

among all parties. This information will be used in the role plays later
today and on day 2.

jq Collaborative Formats

• World cafe

•	Open space

•	Interest-based negotiation (IBN)

cafe).3

•	Set the context: Pay attention to the reason you are bringing people together
and what you want to achieve. Knowing the purpose and parameters of your
meeting enables you to consider and choose the most important elements to
realize your goals (e.g., who should participate, what themes and questions to
consider).

•	Create a hospitable space: The space should feel safe and inviting. When
people feel comfortable to be themselves, they do their most creative thinking,
speaking, and listening.

World Cafe

Design Principles

The seven world cafe design principles are an
integrated set of ideas and practices that form the
basis of the pattern embodied in the world cafe
process (see the Wiser Together guiding
principles for more information about the world

All information about world cafe
is shared and adapted from
http://www.theworldcafe.com
with permission under a
Creative Commons Attribution
3 license.

3 The World Cafe. (n.d.). Design principles, http://www.theworldcafe.com/kev-concepts-resources/desiqn-
principles/

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•	Explore questions that matter: Find questions that are relevant to the real-life
concerns of the group. Depending on the time frame available and your
objectives, your cafe may explore a single question or use a progressively
deeper line of inquiry through several conversational rounds.

•	Encourage everyone's contribution: Most people don't only want to
participate; they want to actively contribute to making a difference. Encourage
everyone in your meeting to contribute their ideas and perspectives, while also
allowing anyone who wants to participate by simply listening to do so.

•	Connect diverse perspectives: The opportunity to move between tables, meet
new people, actively contribute your thinking, and link the essence of your
discoveries to ever-widening circles of thought is one of the distinguishing
characteristics of the cafe.

•	Listen together for patterns and insights: The quality of our listening may be
the most important factor determining the success of a cafe. Encourage people
to listen for what is not being spoken along with what is being shared.

•	Share collective discoveries: Conversations held at one table reflect a pattern
that connects with the conversations at the other tables. The last phase of the
cafe, often called the "harvest," involves making this pattern visible to everyone
in a large group conversation. Call out the patterns, themes, and deeper
questions experienced in the small group conversations to share with the larger
group. Make sure you have a way to capture the "harvest"—working with a
graphic recorder is recommended.

jq Open Space

In open space meetings, events, and organizations, each participant creates
and manages their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central
theme of strategic importance. For example, what is the strategy, group, organization,
or community that all stakeholders can support and work together to create? According
to proponents, open space can only fail for two reasons: if people show up with no
passion, or if somebody tries to control the process to achieve a pre-determined
outcome. The open space experience is run by the facilitator of the group, who typically
explains a series of concepts or ground rules for the event. They will typically describe
four principles and one law to the group at the beginning of the event. The following
information on the law and four principles of open space are shared from
openspaceworld .org.4

4 Stadler, A. (n.d.). Doing an Open Space: A Two Page Primer. Open Space World.
https://openspaceworld.org/files/tmnfiles/2paqeos.htm

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The open space process and concepts are described in the seven steps shown below.
In terms of logistics, the setup includes:

•	Chairs set in one large circle (the circle can have several concentric circles),
where everyone can see and hear everyone else.

•	Flip chart paper and markers in the middle of the circle, which is otherwise
empty.

•	One blank wall with where the agenda will be developed. Time slots and
locations will be predetermined.

The open space experience is run by a facilitator who will typically explain a series of
concepts or ground rules. The facilitator will describe four principles and one law (see
"self-organizing" below) at the beginning of the event with no advance notifications.

Although all seven steps are presented below, only discuss steps five, six, and seven
with the participants. Steps one through four are included to help you prepare for the
role play. Explain that you'll discuss open space more during and after the role play
activity.

1.	Inviting: Before the event, potential participants should receive a simple
invitation. The invitation should emphasize creating new possibilities without
denying or minimizing existing challenges.

2.	Connecting: Once at the event, participants should move around and talk to
people they know already and those they don't.

3.	Focusing:

o After a while, the facilitator should get everyone's attention (for example, by
sounding a bell).

o The leader of the sponsoring or planning group should introduce themselves,
welcome everyone to the meeting and into the circle, and briefly describes
why everyone is there. They will then introduce the meeting facilitator and
take a chair in the circle with everyone else,
o The facilitator should describe the four principles and one law.

4.	Self-organizing: Four principles apply to how you navigate an open space:

o Whoever comes are the right people. The only people really qualified to do
great work on any issue are those who really care and freely choose to be
involved.

o Whenever it starts is the right time. Spirit and creativity don't run on the
clock, so while we're here, we'll all watch for great ideas and new insights,
which can happen at any time.

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o Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. Let go of the "could
haves," "would haves," and "should haves." Give your full attention to the
reality of what is happening, what is working, and what is possible right now.
o When it's over, it's over. You never know just how long it'll take to deal with
a given issue. Getting the work done is more important than sticking to an
arbitrary schedule.

Taken together, these principles say "work hard and pay attention, but be prepared to
be surprised!"

The one law is the "Law of Two Feet" (or the "Law of Personal Mobility"). You know
where you can learn and contribute the most. You use your two feet to go where you
need to go and do what you need to do. If at any time today, you find that you are not
learning or contributing, you have the right and the responsibility to move.

1.	Taking action: After you introduce open space, invite participants to come into
the circle and write down their burning question, passionate issue, or great idea.
As each person finishes, they will introduce themselves and read their issues
aloud. Each person will then tape their sheet to the wall and assign it a place and
time from a pre-arranged set of place/time choices. Making the agenda usually
takes place during the first hour. Since our role play is only 75 minutes, we'll use
the first 10 minutes to develop the agenda. Guide the participants to the wall
where they can sign up for sessions they want to attend. People will move to the
spaces assigned at the prescribed times without any announcements. In multiday
meetings, everyone also assembles in the morning and evening for short "news"
sessions, where things like new sessions, major breakthroughs, and dinner plans
can be announced easily.

2.	Understanding results: In some events, especially longer events, the person
who convenes a session make takes notes using a computer. Generally, in one
day you get a lot of great discussion, in two days you will have time to capture
what happens in a typed document, and a third day (usually a half-day) allows a
more formal or specific plan for immediate action. In the end, the group will have:

o Identified, explored, and addressed the most important issues,
o Gathered new ideas, resources, and people and connected them to these
issues.

o Documented all of this in somewhere between five and 500 pages of notes,

including next steps,
o Established strategic themes, clear priorities, immediate action steps,
o Distributed the information to an energized and action-ready community of
people.

o Empowered them to tell that story to the rest of the organization, community,
or world.

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o Seeded cycles of invitation that will help people maximize their own learning
and contribution.

The role play tomorrow will focus on 1) identifying, exploring, and addressing the
most important issues; 2) gathering new ideas, resources, and people and
connecting them to these issues; 3) documenting discussions and next steps;
and 4) establishing themes, priorities, and immediate action steps.

3. Transforming: When used throughout an organization overtime, open space
can transform an organization or movement at all levels to help important
projects, relationships, strategies, and measurements move in positive new
directions.

Compare World Cafe and Open Space
Similarities

•	The conversation format is relatively informal and inclusive.

•	The format encourages diversity.

•	Discussions focus on challenges important to participants.

•	The outcome is based on group input.

Differences

•	Open space starts with one large group, whereas world cafe starts with small
groups.

•	In a world cafe, session questions are developed in advance. In an open space,
questions are created by the group.

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 3: Scenario and Role Play Introduction	

Objectives: The purpose of this lesson is to review a scenario that you will use as
the foundation for the role play activities.

This activity is based on the Environmental Justice Fundamentals Course,
which is a two-day course taught by EPA staff on the basics of environmental
justice and the collaborative problem-solving model. There are nine main roles
that you can play. The first four roles are "first circle" roles, representing major players
in the issue or topic being discussed. They regularly attend meetings and make
decisions about community issues. There are five more roles, which represent
community groups that are not always called on at typical community meetings about
this issue—they are the "second circle." If you do not want a main role, there is the
"third circle," which are roles that are just concerned about the topic or issue and how it

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will affect their community or organization. These are the roles from which you will
choose:

•	The first circle roles are:

o	Convener (this role will be chosen by the facilitator),

o	Director of County Economic Development for City of AnyCity.

o	Director of Revitalization Development for the City of AnyCity.

o	AnyCity Housing Authority.

•	The second circle roles are:

o	Planning Commission/Redevelopment Agency,

o	State Department of Health and Environment Control,

o	University of AnyState.

o	Wheyburg, Inc.

o	ABC Site.

* * Note that the role play cards you will receive include language that represents
your point of view and your initial positions on issues. As the role plays evolve,
you may find that your point of view shifts or changes. It is fine to deviate from your
original point of view and initial positions if you are so inclined. The role play cards are
only a starting point, a way for you to get "in character."

15-Minute Break	

Objectives: Take a 15-minute break.

Module 4 Day 1: Lesson 4: World Cafe Role Play	

Objectives: Participate in a world cafe role play.

World Cafe Role Play

The world cafe method is intended to create a semi-informal environment that
encourages conversation and listening on a specific, pre-determined topic. We will test
the method's effectiveness today. Follow the facilitator's instructions.

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Module 4 Day 1: Closing	

Objectives: Close out day 1 of module 4 and receive a short introduction to day 2.

Short Introduction to Day 2

You will use what you learned today about collaboration and conflict resolution in the
remaining two role plays: open space and interest-based negotiation.

^ Key Points

• Strive for consensus, not compromise.

•	Address procedural, emotional, and substantive needs.

•	Be inclusive and encourage different ideas and opinions.

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Module 4 Day 2

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboration, Consensus, and Dispute
Resolution

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Module 4 Day 2: Welcome Back	

Objectives: Welcome back to day 2 of module 4.

Module 4 Day 2: Scenario Recap

Objectives: Remember the details of the scenario developed during the previous
lesson.

Refer to the handout (or to the flip chart paper, for those who developed a unique
scenario) and remember what was discussed yesterday and what your role is.

Module 4 Day 2: Reflections on World Cafe and Further Development
of Role Play Activities	

Objectives: Discuss yesterday's role play activity and learn more about today's
activities.

Provide your input or ask questions about the activities on day 1 and day 2.

10-Minute Break	

Objectives: You will take a 10-minute break before the next lesson.

Module 4
Participants Guide

Module 4 Day 2: Lesson 5: Open Space Role Play

Objectives: Participate in simulations for context assessments.

• Open Space Role Play

I I In open space meetings, events, and organizations, participants create and

manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme
of strategic importance. We will test the method's effectiveness today. Follow the
facilitator's instructions.

•	After about 5 minutes of mingling, you will come into the circle and write down
your burning question, passionate issue, or great idea.

•	Tape your sheet to the wall and assign it a place and time (from a pre-arranged
set of space/time choices). Making the agenda usually takes place in the first

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hour. Since this role play is only 75 minutes long, the first 10 minutes will be
used to develop the agenda.

•	Sign up for sessions you want to attend.

•	Move to the spaces assigned at the prescribed times without any
announcements.

•	When there are about 15 minutes left, a volunteer will share what was
discussed.

40-Minute Break	

Objectives: Take a 40-minute lunch break before the final role play.

Module 4 Day 2: Tools and Philosophies (Appreciative Inquiry and
Interest-Based Negotiation)	

Objectives: Learn about the differences between collaboration philosophies and
formats.

Provide your input or ask questions about yesterday's activities and ask
questions about today's activities.

Module 4 Day 2: Lesson 6: Interest-Based Negotiation	

Objectives: You will learn about the concepts of interest-based negotiation.

interest-Based Negotiation

•	Focus on Interests, Not Positions

o Why have you taken this position?
o What do you hope to achieve?
o Why is this important to you?
o What are your concerns?

•	Separate the People from the Problem

o Remember, there are multiple ways to see an issue,
o Look at the situation from the other perspective and discuss each other's
perceptions.

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o Acknowledge that others' perceptions can be legitimate (you can

acknowledge without agreeing to anything),
o Acknowledge but don't react to emotions.

•	Identify a Range of Possibilities to Solve the Problem
o What is the best you can do if you can't work it out?
o What is the worst you can do?
o What is the best or worst the other side can do?

•	Use Objective Criteria to Select Among Options
o Find commonly accepted standards of fairness, scientific merit, or precedent,
o Invite new data from all sides.

o Frame each problem as a joint search for objective criteria,
o Use mutually agreed-upon technical experts.

Compare Interest-Based Negotiation to World Cafe and Open Space

World cafe and open space are more like tools, processes, or meeting formats
that create an environment for effective collaboration. Interest-based
negotiation, like appreciative inquiry, is more of a philosophy of person-to-person
engagement. It is a way of thinking, not a meeting format.

Module 4 Day 2: Summary: Synopsis of Day 1 and 2	

Objectives: You will review the topics that have been covered during the module.

Listen to a summary of the topics you learned during module 4. This summary will help
reinforce your understanding of wide array of consensus building and dispute resolution
tools you may apply in a wide variety of community situations. These tools can ensure
that partners and communities are treated fairly and can participate fully, develop
agreements, and resolve disagreements and impediments to progress.

•	You should learn, creatively identify, and apply the wide array of
consensus building and dispute resolution tools at your disposal.

•	You should be able to use these skills to design processes, build trust and
promote common visions and goals among all partners.

•	You should be able to identify, nurture, and promote mutual gains within your
community.

•	You should be able to use upstream, midstream, and downstream dispute
resolution techniques to both create innovations and overcome challenges as
people work together.

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Appendices

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Appendix A: Additional Resources	

Websites:

•	Open Space: http://openspaceworld.org/wp2/

•	World Cafe: http://www.theworldcafe.com/

•	World Cafe Design Principles: http://www.theworldcafe.com/kev-concepts-
resources/desiqn-principles/

•	5 U.S.C. § 571(3), Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution in the Administrative
Process: https://www.law.cornell.edU/uscode/text/5/571

Books:

•	Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone,
Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen:

https://www.penquinrandomhouse.com/books/331191/difficult-conversations-bv-
douqlas-stone-bruce-patton-and-sheila-heen-foreword-bv-roqer-fisher/

•	Getting to YES: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher,
William Ury, and Bruce Patton: https://www.pon.harvard.edu/shop/qettinq-to-
ves-neqotiatinq-aqreement-without-qivinq-in/

•	The World Cafe Book: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations that Matter
by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs with the World Cafe Community of Practice:
http://www.theworldcafe.com/world-cafe-book/

Contacts:

Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center (CPRC)

EPA Headquarters

https://www.epa.gov/adr

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Appendix B: Collaborative Characteristics of Meeting Formats

Collaborative Characteristics of Meeting Formats

Format

Relationships

Cooperation

Shared Learning

Transformational
Thinking

Sustainability

Collaboration
Characteristics

•	Respect.

•	Taking time to
learn about
each other's
values and
interests.

•	Trusting each
other over
time.

•	Shared
interests.

•	All key parties
are engaged.

•	Everyone
understands
the problem,
process, and
rationale.

•	Working
together to
solve the
problem.

•	Everyone
understands
each other and
the problem.

•	All information
is transparent.

•	Shared
development
and analysis of
options.

•	Not a
compromise.

•	Creative thinking.

•	Unanticipated
solutions.

•	Integration of
interests.

•	Positive gains for
all.

•	-Full ownership by
key stakeholders.

•	-Realistic
decisions.

•	-Implementation
flexibility.

•	-Clear roles and
responsibilities.

•	-Range of
stakeholder
interests.

World Cafe3

Through shared
listening and
paying attention
to themes,
patterns and
insights,

participants begin
to sense a
connection to the
larger whole.

Relationships,
ideas, and
meaning
naturally "cross-
pollinate" as
participants
move from one
conversation to
another.

Moving between
tables and
actively
contributing
enables
participants to
learn, explore
possibilities, and
co-create
together.

As participants carry
key ideas or themes
to new tables, they
exchange
perspectives,
creating the
possibility for
surprising new
insights.

Participant
ownership in
processes and
decision-making
helps build
sustainable
outcomes.

Interest-Based
Negotiationb

Build and
preserve
relationships to
achieve goals by
building trust.

Identify what you
already agree
with. Seek to
understand the
perceptions of
others.

Frame the
problem as a joint
search for
objective criteria.

There are no
winners or losers,
and all parties'
interests can be met.
This is the best
alternative to a
negotiated
agreement.

The goal is to reach
an agreement that is
sustainable because
of the way it was
developed.



a The World Cafe. (n.d.). Design principles, http://www.theworldcafe.com/kev-concepts-resources/desian-principles/

b Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (1991). Getting to YES: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books.

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Appendix C: Develop Scenario for Role Play Exercise	

You may use this activity if your facilitator chooses to develop a scenario and
roles in class rather than use the prepared scenario, roles, and scripts.

encourage open and honest communication. If participants develop the
scenario, the role play ends up being about real things that they have encountered. If
there is insufficient time or the facilitator is not comfortable allowing the group to
develop their own scenario, we have provided an example scenario. Use the prompts
on the slides to cover every aspect of the scenario.

The facilitator (or a volunteer) may want to capture the scenario on flip chart paper to
easily refer to it during the role play.

Real Life:

•	Think about situations from your own experience.

•	Be careful not to disclose any specific sensitive aspects or divulge any private
facts.

•	If a clear "winner" doesn't emerge, either take a vote or decide on a specific
scenario. Move on to the next two aspects to develop the details of the scenario.

Map:

•	Now that we've decided on the challenge, let's develop the map.
o Is the site urban or rural?

o What are the industrial aspects (e.g., manufacturing, retail)?
o What are the natural aspects? Are there parks, wetlands, or endangered
species?

o What are the environmental opportunities and challenges?
o What does the community look like? Is it dependent on a single, large

industry for jobs? How diverse is the population?
o Are there other aspects we haven't included that should be?

•	Roles: We need to determine what role each of you will play in this scenario.
Here are some examples of roles to consider including:

o One person can represent the impacted residents.

Develop Scenario

This module should not be taped or recorded to protect confidentiality and



« We are now going to develop (or review) a scenario that we will use for

'? tomorrow's role play.

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o What local government officials should be represented (e.g., city council
member, mayor)?

o Who from the private sector should be represented? Think about the

industries we included,
o What about local religious leaders from various religions?
o Should there be a real estate representative, such as a developer or agent?
o Is the community college involved?
o What about local environmental and health officials?
o What federal agencies should be represented?
o What about representatives from the chamber of commerce, city code

enforcement, and the state government?
o Are there other roles that should be included?

History and Present Interest

•	Try to save at least 15 minutes for this.

•	Ask participants to break up into four small groups, regardless of the number of
participants. Encourage them to divide up in groups that may not share similar
views.

•	Participants should work together to develop the history (i.e., "backstory") and
the present interests of the person or entity they represent.

•	Participants should help each other by asking probing questions based on their
own experiences.

•	Participants should write down aspects of their roles or what they might say for
the role play on day 2.

At the end of the time, tell the participants to continue to think about their role and be
ready to do the role play activity in the morning.

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Appendix D: Appreciative Inquiry Workshop in the Proctor Creek
Community of Atlanta, Georgia	

In November 2014, EPA's Region 4 Office of Environmental Justice and Sustainability
(OEJS) introduced the Proctor Creek community to appreciative inquiry, a new,
facilitated capacity-building approach that focuses on identifying the root causes of
success instead of the root causes of failure. Appreciative inquiry helped Proctor Creek
watershed stakeholders communicate about cross-agency (e.g., federal, state, local)
projects and initiatives in their historically disenfranchised community.

The Proctor Creek watershed and surrounding communities in Atlanta, Georgia, was
the focus of environmental justice, sustainability, and community revitalization efforts
for over 15 years. Proctor Creek, one of the most impaired creeks in the Atlanta metro
area, consists of nine miles of contaminated waters that drains an area of
approximately 10,198 acres into the Chattahoochee River. Neighborhoods within the
watershed experience overlapping environmental and public health issues. These
issues include abandoned and derelict properties, blighted sites, illegal tire dumping,
brownfields, limited green space, mosquito problems, sewage backups, and pervasive
flooding. The watershed also has more than 33 percent impervious cover in places,
which makes flooding a significant issue. Other significant issues include flooded
housing, mold and mildew in houses, high crime, lack of policing, and limited economic
opportunity.

What has worked well in this community?

Over the past 15 years, the community leaders came together in a very informal way.
Today, those same leaders have organized a formal neighborhood group called the
Proctor Creek Stewardship Council (PCSC). The PCSC is a community-led, grassroots
organization that is driven by the values of stewardship, sustainability, equity, and
environmental justice for all. They envision a Proctor Creek that is clean, accessible,
swimmable, and fishable. The PCSC's overarching mission is to restore, revitalize, and
protect the ecological health of the Proctor Creek watershed basin and the quality of life
of all its people. The PCSC has grown and now has a community website
(https://aboutproctorcreek.wordpress.com/storv-of-the-creek) with information about its
goals, monthly meeting locations, an interactive map, Proctor Creek history, plans,
water quality studies, press stories, newsletter information, green infrastructure
projects, and ways to engage.

What is the community most excited about?

In September 2014, EPA's OEJS secured assistance through an EPA Region 7
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) specialist. EPA hosted a one-day workshop
structured to help the community participants and leaders create a communications
framework for information exchange. The ADR specialist led the stakeholders through

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the appreciative inquiry approach so they could identify what was working well, analyze
why it was working well, and then take steps to do more of it. The basic tenet of
appreciative inquiry is that an organization will grow in whichever direction its members
focus their attention. If all the attention is focused on problems, then identifying
problems and dealing with them is what the organization will do best. If all the attention
is focused on strengths, then identifying strengths and building on those strengths is
what the organization will do best. It is a complete contrast to the traditional problem-
solving methods we are accustomed to.

The one-day workshop was a success. Over 54 participants—including residents,
nonprofits, academics, and government representatives—discussed how to strengthen
coordination and communication in Proctor Creek. The hard-working participants used
the event to take the Proctor Creek community to the next level of action.

During the meeting, community residents shared stories of positive experiences and
their dreams of future successes in the watershed, laying the groundwork for ongoing
collaboration. The result was two action items to strengthen communication and
collaboration in Proctor Creek:

•	Strengthen the PCSC's capacity to be the platform for residents' engagement in
Proctor Creek. Communicate the formalization of the PCSC's structure to help
other organizations feel confident that it is truly representative of Proctor Creek's
residents.

•	Establish a steering committee or watershed partnership among organizations
working to strengthen the environmental quality and quality of life of residents.
This partnership should include representatives from nonprofit and grassroots
organizations (including leadership from the PCSC), universities, local
government, and others. This partnership will strengthen communication about
activities and opportunities and foster collaboration towards a shared vision in
the watershed. The partnership will also help identify resources for the PCSC
and watershed residents to build capacity and conduct community engagement.

The workshop ended with a unanimous commitment to continue the dialogue. The
group found the process to be positive; unexpectedly productive; and an encouraging
sign for a new era of coordination, communication, and collaborative action. The
participants appreciated the effort and were eager to follow up with their leaders and
constituencies to spur further dialogue and build on the action items.

Proctor Creek was later designated as an Urban Waters Federal Partnership location
and this leverage was used to continue implementing the action plan.

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Proctor Creek is a display of model interagency collaboration at the local, state, and
federal levels. Alongside community engagement and capacity-building, the community
leveraged a new problem-solving tool called appreciative inquiry.

Proctor Creek, an environmental justice community of concern, was used as a
demonstration project in EPA's first Health Impact Assessment (HIA) study. Since
publication of the final HIA report in 2015, the project continues to gain national visibility
at conferences and in academia as a case study for ensuring health and equity in
decision-making. Because of this success, the HIA tool is recognized as a viable new
science tool supported by the EPA Office of Research and Development's Sustainable
and Healthy Communities Program.

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Appendix E: Collaborative Problem-Solving Element 3	

Collaborative Problem-Solving Model Element 3: Consensus Building and
Dispute Resolution: Objectives

•	Ensure partnering organizations are treated fairly and can participate.

•	Build trust.

•	Establish a common set of ideas and plans to address concerns.

•	Help organizations develop agreements.

•	Resolve conflicts; use techniques like dispute resolution when necessary.
Techniques to build consensus and resolve disputes:

•	Design processes, both formal and informal, to ensure fair treatment and
meaningful participation of all stakeholders.

•	Promote the development of a common vision and goals among all partners.

•	Use facilitators or mediators to help with the communication and negotiation
processes.

•	Identify, nurture, and promote win-win scenarios and mutual gains.

•	Use alternative dispute resolution techniques to resolve crystallized disputes.

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