About

Mission

The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution supports and sustains the development of information technology applications, institutional resources, and theoretical and applied knowledge for better understanding and managing conflict. The Center believes that networked information technology can be uniquely leveraged to expand and improve conflict management resources and expertise. We are only at the beginning of understanding how individuals separated by great physical, cultural, or technological distances can utilize resources and expertise virtually. We conceive of the online environment as a "place" where increasingly powerful tools will be available for working to find solutions to many forms of offline/online conflict, whether they are public or private, whether they involve commercial transactions or other social relationships, and whether they are international or domestic.

History

The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution was founded in 1998 by Ethan Katsh and Janet Rifkin with a grant form the Hewlett Foundation. It originally focused on disputes arising out of online activities and in 1999 was asked by eBay to conduct a pilot project to determine whether buyer-seller disputes could be resolved online. This was the first large scale online mediation <more on History> Since then, the focus of the Center has broadened to include the use of technology generally in dispute resolution, whether originating online or offline. <more on History>.

Who's Involved

• Ethan Katsh
• Leah Wing
• Fellows & Associates