Process design is the strategic infrastructure that enables large, diverse groups to resolve complex conflict. In public policy mediation, the numerous interrelated moving parts of parties, issues, power relations, history, dynamics, and constraints create configurations that require uniquely tailored process designs.

Our discussion will consider the basic building blocks of process design as a means for reflecting on mediation processes generally and across contexts.

Susan Podziba, Principal at Podziba Policy Mediation, has served as a public policy mediator for more than 30 years. Most of her projects include working with senior leadership of governments, representative stakeholders, civil society, and the general public. Her clients have included the United States Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Senate, U.S. Institute for Peace, United Nations, The World Bank, British Council, and Negotiation Strategies Institute of Jerusalem. She is listed on the United Nations Mediation Roster, has served as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Peace and Conflict Resolution, and is recipient of a National Partnership for Reinventing Government Award.

Ms. Podziba is author of Civic Fusion: Mediating Polarized Public Disputes and Our City: From Corruption to Participatory Democracy as well as numerous book chapters and journal articles. She has taught graduate seminars at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, senior executive courses at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and the recently launched The Program: Process Design for Complexity.

Questions? Email mvolpe@jjay,cuny.edu.