Ross asks how effective each strategy is in producing constructive changes in disputants' interests and interpretations. The following two chapters draw upon the previously described framework to evaluate the management of various disputes. Chapter Six presents cases of successful conflict management. Success in conflict management is rarely absolute. Rather, success is to be measured by the degree to which conflict management improves the original unmanaged situation.
Improvement is itself a complex and culturally influenced idea.
Ross discusses various criteria by which to measure improvement. Chapter Seven analyses failed attempts at conflict management, in order to further understand, by contrast, what makes for successful conflict management. Chapter Eight focuses on psychocultural interpretations. He describes positive changes in psychocultural attitudes. He then evaluates the effectiveness of various conflict management strategies at promoting positive interpretations.