Start Date
10-2-2021 4:45 PM
End Date
10-2-2021 6:15 PM
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Description
Overview
The world-wide-web development in the 1990s has led to the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) movement over the last two decades. As digital and internet technology has become globally widespread, discovering new ways of using online tools for dispute resolution is becoming more prevalent. Living in a digital culture, “also known as digitality or digitalism,” has become a norm for our post-modern society. As we continue to witness in the conflict resolution field, incorporating technology into the dispute resolution processes is becoming more commonplace for practitioners.
As ODR continues to be seen ripe for innovation and as a valuable tool to resolve conflicts, it will continue to expand at a rapid pace and be consumer-led. During the recent Corona COVID 19 pandemic outbreak, the need for quick, efficient, and virtual solutions showed how new techniques and online communication platforms are urgently needed on a global scale. As there continues to be exponential growth in Internet usage, mobile, and information technology development, there will be many advances in online dispute resolution mechanisms.
This paper will supply an in-depth description of the impact of COVID-19 on ADR/ODR practitioners. The descriptive case study design was employed using descriptive statistical analysis of the data collected. Themes from increased dispute resolution cases to demand ODR training and software surfaced. Research findings show both negative and positive effects of the pandemic on ODR businesses. Research limitations include the inability to adequately measure and test if and how the virtual world has offered new opportunities beyond the classic ADR and difficulty finding relevant quantitative research literature. Suggestions for future research are proposed. Practical implications include ensuring access to technology by clients and practitioners and technology training for professional development. Social implications include effective adaptation to changing technology, comfort with multitasking clients, and openness to technology-rich ODR and learning environments. This paper fills a gap in the literature where little information on the impact of COVID-19 on Conflict Resolution Practitioner’s businesses exists. This research also provides a better understanding of the theoretical foundations for comprehending our digital age. Further study on digital governance and technologies in a modern public administration would be required.
Keywords: ADR, alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution, COVID-19, internet, ODR, online dispute resolution, practitioners, technology, virtual platforms
Included in
Business and Corporate Communications Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, E-Commerce Commons, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Law Commons, Organizational Communication Commons
Conflict Resolution in the Virtual World: The Impact of COVID-19 on New Ways of Doing Business
Overview
The world-wide-web development in the 1990s has led to the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) movement over the last two decades. As digital and internet technology has become globally widespread, discovering new ways of using online tools for dispute resolution is becoming more prevalent. Living in a digital culture, “also known as digitality or digitalism,” has become a norm for our post-modern society. As we continue to witness in the conflict resolution field, incorporating technology into the dispute resolution processes is becoming more commonplace for practitioners.
As ODR continues to be seen ripe for innovation and as a valuable tool to resolve conflicts, it will continue to expand at a rapid pace and be consumer-led. During the recent Corona COVID 19 pandemic outbreak, the need for quick, efficient, and virtual solutions showed how new techniques and online communication platforms are urgently needed on a global scale. As there continues to be exponential growth in Internet usage, mobile, and information technology development, there will be many advances in online dispute resolution mechanisms.
This paper will supply an in-depth description of the impact of COVID-19 on ADR/ODR practitioners. The descriptive case study design was employed using descriptive statistical analysis of the data collected. Themes from increased dispute resolution cases to demand ODR training and software surfaced. Research findings show both negative and positive effects of the pandemic on ODR businesses. Research limitations include the inability to adequately measure and test if and how the virtual world has offered new opportunities beyond the classic ADR and difficulty finding relevant quantitative research literature. Suggestions for future research are proposed. Practical implications include ensuring access to technology by clients and practitioners and technology training for professional development. Social implications include effective adaptation to changing technology, comfort with multitasking clients, and openness to technology-rich ODR and learning environments. This paper fills a gap in the literature where little information on the impact of COVID-19 on Conflict Resolution Practitioner’s businesses exists. This research also provides a better understanding of the theoretical foundations for comprehending our digital age. Further study on digital governance and technologies in a modern public administration would be required.
Keywords: ADR, alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution, COVID-19, internet, ODR, online dispute resolution, practitioners, technology, virtual platforms
Additional Comments
Attached is a draft paper that is co-authored by NOVA Ph.D. students, Eileen Petzold- Bradley, Nyamal Tutdeal, and Genevieve Sabala under the direction of Dr. Elena Bastidas as IRB Co-PI.