(1) “Conflict resolution” means the process of transforming individuals involved in interpersonal or inter-group confrontations from being adversaries to being partners in a side-by-side search for a fair agreement that is advantageous to both.
(2) “Consensus decision making” means a group problem-solving process in which all of the parties in the dispute or representatives of each party collaborate to resolve the dispute by crafting a plan of action that all parties can and will support. This process may or may not be facilitated by a neutral party.
(3) “Mediation” means a problem-solving process in which the two parties in the dispute or their representative meet face to face to work together to resolve the dispute assisted by a neutral third party called the “mediator.”
(4) “Negotiation” means a problem-solving process in which either the two parties in the dispute or their representative meet face to face to work together unassisted to resolve the dispute between the parties.