Rather, the role of the mediator or mediation panel is to help the parties reach their own resolution. Mediation aims to satisfy all parties, and because the parties are empowered to control the outcome, the potential exists for a solution that addresses the interests of all parties. While courts are limited by law to specific remedies, mediation is limited only by the nature of the problem and the parties' own creativity. Because it is the ADR method that involves the parties more than any other method, mediation has the potential for being the most successful. The parties come to a solution themselves, and therefore are invested in an enduring resolution.
Mediation currently is used to resolve disputes in a wide variety of settings.
Whether the dispute is between students, neighbors, family members, businesses, or parties to an accident, the mediation process is an effective tool for achieving solutions by mutual agreement rather than by court order. Conciliation Conciliation is an informal process in which an agreed-upon neutral third party is asked to investigate a dispute, usually one involving complex or technical issues. Conciliation is voluntary and private. The third party meets with the parties at separate times, analyzes the disputed facts, and issues his or her findings in a non-binding report or recommendation. This process may be especially useful in handling sensitive internal disputes, such as an allegation of discrimination within a company.