How to Use Audio, 

Web, and Video 

Conferencing in ADR

ADR.GOV

INTERAGENCY ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WORKING GROUP

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

1 07 MARCH 2017 IADRWG LUNCHTIME TECH TRAINING SESSION
Agenda

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12:00 Opening remarks

12:10 Margaret Ross

12:30 Kevin Buffington

12:50 Daniel Rainey

1:10 Q&A, discussion

1:25 Closing remarks

1:30 End
Opening Remarks

WHY CONSIDER ADR TECHNOLOGY

Appropriate technology 

can enhance delivery of ADR

Time, place, cost, process

Problems, decisions, 

action

 Mission requires adoption 

of appropriate tech

Who will parties select if 

your ADR tools lead to 

better success & mine don’t?

THE PROBLEM

20th Century ADR training 

does not prepare us to 

understand, select, or use 

appropriate tech

Rapid changes in 

technologies & specific 

hardware & software

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Moderator Michael Wolf, Director, FMCS CADRO

Speakers

Daniel Rainey

Chief of Staff, NMB

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Kevin Buffington

Commissioner and 

Field Technologies 

Administrator, FMCS

Margaret Ross

Conflict Resolution 

Specialist, EPA

07 MARCH 2017 IADRWG LUNCHTIME TECH TRAINING SESSION
TODAY: How to Use Audio, Web, 

& Video Technology in ADR

Display, Describe, and/or Demo

Best Practices

Overcome Barriers

Q&A

May 10

Web-based services

Survey tools

Scheduling tools

Thereafter?

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Administrative

Announcement

07 MARCH 2017 IADRWG LUNCHTIME TECH TRAINING SESSION
How to Use Audio, 

Web, and Video 

Conferencing in ADR 

EPA’s experience & efforts
First do no harm

• Set aside adequate time for learning, planning, 

execution.

• Assess participant capabilities/access.

• Tailor your approach to ensure equal access.

• Build a team.

• Provide clear communication and troubleshooting. 

• Create backup and contingency plans.

• Use a technology annotated agenda.
Types of Real-Time Collaboration

In-Person

Remote

Hybrid
Considerations

Event Time Cost Participation Communication

In-Person

Lead time for 

room and 

equipment 

reservations. 

Travel costs. Room 

and/or audio/visual 

costs.

Must be physically 

present. Requires 

some amount of 

travel time. 

High context 

communication. 

Remote

Limited lead time 

required, limited 

staff time 

required. 

Possible licensing 

costs. No travel 

costs. 

Technology 

availability and 

capability. 

Lower context 

communication.

Hybrid

Significant 

planning required, 

and more than 

one facilitator may 

be required.

Room reservation + 

integration of 

multiple audio/ 

visual components

Most flexible for 

participants. Most 

work for facilitators. 

Difficult to balance 

high and low 

contexts.
EPA Tools

Tool Name External

Parties

Integrated 

A/V

Physical equipment 

required

Pitfalls

Reservationless

Plus Audio 

Conferencing

Yes No Telephone Noise, interruptions, hard to 

gauge attention, no body 

language

Adobe Connect 

Web Conferencing

Yes Yes (or 

separate, 

as desired)

Computer, internet, 

webcam, mic, 

telephone

Tech troubleshooting, audio 

integration issues, video 

bandwidth problems

Skype for Business No Yes Computer, internet, 

VPN, webcam, mic

Tech troubleshooting, can 

only use internally

Tandberg Video 

Conferencing 

No Yes Tandberg station, 

computer

Room reservations, can only 

use internally, splitting screen
Two Contexts for Tech use in ADR

Community Involvement

• External stakeholders.

• Can involve large numbers 

of participants/parties.

• Differing levels of 

technology access & 

capability.

• Long term process, many 

events over time.

• Use of in person, 

telephone, web meetings, 

and other social media 

tools to keep momentum.

EEO Mediation

• Internal to EPA.

• Usually small number of 

participants.

• Same technology and 

support available to all.

• Usually a single event.

• Use of video 

teleconferencing almost 

exclusively.
Video Teleconferencing

• Very high quality audio and 

visual.

• Straightforward connection: 

just dial the number.

• Easy set up for “face to 

face” meetings.

• Very high cost: initial 

investment in equipment, 

ongoing maintenance, 

service contracts.

• Participation limited by 

room access.
07 March 2017 IADRWG lunchtime tech training session

The Federal Mediation and 

Conciliation Service uses TAGS 

to enhance the customer Online 

Dispute Resolution experience. 

Technology Assisted Group 

Solutions (TAGS) is our umbrella 

that houses a number of our 

software programs.

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07 March 2017 IADRWG lunchtime tech training session

Conducting some or all Dispute 

Resolution and sub-committee 

meetings online saves

Time, Money, Travel and Stress!

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 We maintain our own servers that allow labor, management 

and other involved parties to conduct secure business like 

negotiations, surveys and committee work via the Internet. 

 This technology has been successfully used by FMCS in F2F, 

Remote and Combination meetings of 4 – 400 users in a 

session. Our online Surveys have had thousands of users.

 Parties can access their data 24/7 via a smartphone, IPad or 

laptop. We also have laptops and mobile servers that can be 

provided for a meeting if needed. 

 Labor and management has in almost every case saved both 

time and money when we have used this technology. They 

like it!

What We Know 

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Technology at the FMCS

 Adobe Connect – Biggest benefits – user control, breakout 

rooms and integrated audio and video. Ref: Adobe.com

 FacilitatePro – Biggest benefits – user anonymity if desired, 

electronic flip-charting, brainstorming, surveys, reports, 

capable of gathering input and evaluating viability of 

possible solutions from large groups as easily as working 

with small numbers of participants. Software’s information 

processing saves massive negotiation time in an Interestbased method of ADR. Can be used simultaneously with 

Adobe. Ref: Facilitate.com

 eRooms – Biggest benefits – 24/7 availability, document 

management. Ref: Emc.com

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When do we have a Technologyassisted meeting?

• When we believe these software tools may benefit a 

labor/management or ADR experience by doing any of 

the following:

A. Saving the agency or the parties “Time” (travel or 

meeting process time)

B. Saving the agency or the parties “Money” (travel 

expense and related stress).

C. Accomplishing a better end-result by changing 

methodology.

D. Logistics can be in place to accommodate the 

technology.

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Organizational involvement

 Educate our potential users (our field agents 

and their management) on the software and 

it’s benefits via webinars.

 Conduct tech training for willing agents.

 Tech request discussion 

 5 W’s and how will the technology be used?

 Field agent’s ability and/or comfort level?

 Can they run a TA meeting on their own?

 Will they need help in preparing or conducting the meeting?

 What level of support is needed (physical presence or remote)

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Adobe Connect

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FacilitatePro - IBPS - Interests

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FacilitatePro – IBPS-Brainstorm Options

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FacilitatePro - Evaluate Options

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Results (most to least acceptable)

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FacilitatePro - Results (item detail view)

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EMC - eRoom

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Questions? Presenter:

Kevin Buffington 

Commissioner and 

Field Technologies 

Administrator

Federal Mediation & 

Conciliation Service

kbuffington@fmcs.gov

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Thank you!
Networked Apps and Web Video

• Early 2000’s – Agreement with NLRB for Site-to-Site

• Late 2000’s forward – WebEx

• Current Apps:

Google Hangout

WebEx

Trokt

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Networked Apps and Web Video

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• Ad Hoc Meetings

• Working Meetings

• Mediation/Arbitration Sessions

Networked Apps and Web Video

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External Barriers:

Discomfort

Trust

DFR

Internal Barriers:

Traditional Practice

Trust

Networked Apps and Web Video

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Networked Apps and Web Video

Impact on Model Rules

Self-Determination

Confidentiality

Competence

508 Compliance

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Closing Remarks

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