Building on the Strengths of Different Approaches

Abstract

Just as completely different work teams at Boeing can collaborate on the design of a new type of aircraft which will have the speed of military fighter jets and the stability of passenger jets, so too can research and practice in the field of conflict resolution work together to enhance and increase our knowledge. To do so, conflict resolution researchers and practitioners should go beyond traditional collaborative efforts. The author suggests four areas that would help accomplish this goal: improving the ways we ask questions; creating better designs for dialogs; recognizing unexplored areas of practice; and codifying emergent areas for future use.