Solve Book - ADR Center

SOLVE Mediation Matrix

The SOLVE Mediation Matrix is a practical guide for professionals—including mediators, lawyers, judges, and managers—as well as anyone interested in effectively managing conflict and improving their resolution skills. It provides a comprehensive framework for navigating conflicts, difficult conversations, and tough decisions, offering specific techniques and strategies for mediators and facilitators to achieve constructive outcomes.

At the heart of the book is the SOLVE Matrix, which represents a methodology of 5 steps (SOLVE):

S

Set the Stage

which represents the groundwork for mediation, including setting expectations, clarifying roles, and fostering a safe environment for dialogue.

O

Open the Process

where parties articulate their perspectives, while trying to restore communication and define the topics for discussion.

L

Listen & Understand

where the mediator engages deeply with each party to understand their underlying needs and interests, often gathering sensitive information that enables future negotiations.

V

Validate Options

when potential solutions are generated and discussed, while ensuring that all parties feel their interests are represented.

E

Enable Resolution

when agreements are formalized and the process concludes with clarity and mutual understanding, facilitating closure for all parties involved.

For each of these 5 steps, the authors examine more than 140 elements structured into five main categories (TASKS):

T

Targets

Clear objectives for what needs to be achieved in each stage.

A

Activities

Specific actions or steps that mediators and participants should undertake to accomplish the targets.

S

Strategies

Approaches that can be employed to effectively navigate each stage.

K

Keys

Tangible resources, frameworks, forms, techniques, graphs and methods that assist in implementing the strategies effectively.

S

Skills

The competencies and abilities required to facilitate the mediation process successfully.

SOLVE is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in mediation, offering real-world insights, practical methods, and field-tested strategies. Whether you’re an experienced mediator or new to the field, this book is an essential guide to enhancing your mediation practice and resolving conflicts effectively and ethically. For the latest version of the SOLVE Matrix, a copy of the Mediation Canvas, and other related resources, visit www.adrcenter.com/solve-mediation-matrix.

Leonardo D'Urso

CEO of ADR Center, a leading international mediation provider headquartered in Europe and operating worldwide (www.adrcenter.com), managing over 7,000 mediations annually. He serves as a board member of the Weinstein International Foundation (WIF) and as a board member and vice-chair of the International Mediation Institute (IMI). With over 27 years of experience as a full-time mediator of complex commercial disputes, he is a pioneer of mediation in Europe and a leader in developing innovative strategies to expand the use of mediation and establish private and public mediation ecosystems by designing and implementing ADR policies within corporations, large organizations, and entire jurisdictions. He divides his professional time primarily between Rome and Dubai.

Constantin Adi Gavrilă

CEO and founder of ADR Center Romania, with extensive ADR expertise since 2002 and Senior Fellow of the Weinstein International Foundation. He has trained over 1,500 mediators and provided consultancy to governments and organizations in more than 30 countries. In addition to his civil and commercial mediation experience, Adi mediates between companies and communities on the environmental and social impacts of large-scale development projects through Independent Accountability Mechanisms worldwide. With a PhD in constitutional law and emphasis on “Mediation and Access to Justice” from Craiova University, his expertise includes the design and implementation of public and corporate mediation policies. Adi is teaching negotiation, mediation and conflict analysis to political science and law students.

Julia Radanova

Lawyer and international mediator with over 10 years of experience with 15 + numerous publications in mediations and two books. Her PhD in mediation was followed by a post-doctorate at Mykolos Romeris University, Lithuania, where she is pursuing her academic aspirations today. A Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Harvard-trained mediator, she lectures on mediation across Europe and has trained more than 500 mediators in Bulgaria. Julia used to also serve the position of Principal Mediation at Independent Project Accountability Mechanism of EBRD. Julia is a senior expert at ADR Center and a case manager of its Out-of-court Dispute Service Mechanism established under the Digital Services Act (https://ods.adrcenter.it/ ).

Mastering Conflict Resolution with SOLVE

A practical guide for professionals and anyone interested in effectively managing conflict and improving their resolution skills. It provides a comprehensive framework for navigating conflicts, difficult conversations, and tough decisions, offering specific techniques and strategies for mediators and facilitators to achieve constructive outcomes.