News and Views

Evaluating Community-Based Collaboration on Federal Lands and Resources Matthew McKinneySociety and Natural Resources

The growing interest in community-based collaboration (CBC) has provoked both enthusiasm and skepticism. This article sheds some light on the claims of both proponents and skeptics by presenting data on nearly 50 cases of CBC on federal lands and resources in the Rocky Mountain West. The findings indicate that participants are generally satisfied with the process and outcomes of CBC; CBC tends to open and inclusive of all interests, viewpoints, and stakeholders; CBC fosters informed decision making; CBC is efficient in terms of time and money; CBC produces valuable outcomes; CBC is often better than its alternatives; and CBC is slowly realigning the roles of citizens andpublicofficials.This article also offers some insights on evaluating collaboration.

How Congress Seeks, Processes, and Legislates Complex Science and Technology Issues Peter S. Adler, Jeremy KranowitzScience and Technology Policy in Congress: An Assessment of How Congress Seeks, Processes, and Legislates Complex Science and Technology Issues

In 2007 and 2008, The Keystone Center and the Consensus Building Institute conducted a series of interviews of current and past Members of Congress and their senior staff, to better understand how Congress accesses information on complex scientific and technological issues that may require legislation or regulation. While studies have suggested what Congress
should do, little has been done to ask Congress, what gaps it perceives, and what might be improved from the view on
Capitol Hill. This report is an assessment of those Congressional interviews and recommendations.

Establishing a Minimum Standard for Collaborative Research in Federal Environmental Agencies Kalle E Matso, Molly O’Donovan Dix, Benjamin Chicoski, Debra L Hernandez, and Jerry R Schubel

There is a general consensus that the rate, efficiency, and effectiveness of linking research to decision making must be enhanced. Many reports have touched on this issue, but very few documents provide details or assign responsibility to drive the interactions that most agree should happen. As a result, many natural science programs ‘‘talk the talk’’ but few ‘‘walk the walk’’. In this paper we will review the cultural conflict that underlies disagreements about collaborative research, offer details on the basic ingredients required to achieve a minimum standard for collaborative research, suggest an approach for determining the appropriate level of support for collaborative research and recommend specific steps for motivating scientists and stakeholders to participate in collaborative research.

Assessing the State of Conflict Assessment Todd SchenkCBI Reports

CBI recently reviewed over 40 conflict assessment reports from around
the world on behalf of an organization hoping to advance public sector
dispute resolution in Japan. Our study revealed a wide variety of
approaches.

Presidents as Consensus Builders: A Reflection on Political Skills CBI Reports

Every four years, the U.S. Presidential campaign provides pundits and the public a fresh opportunity to decide what qualifies a candidate to be the nation’s political leader. Public leaders unquestionably can develop their coalition and consensus building skills over time, but the next President will face a raft of pressing challenges at home and abroad on Inauguration Day, and is likely to have short honeymoon in a country eager for change.

Beyond Negotiation Training: CBI Offers More in 2008 CBI Reports

CBI is pleased to formally offer eight new courses
for organizations and groups, to complement our basic and advanced
courses in negotiation. For each course, we’ll provide assessment at
the front end to ensure a completely tailored approach; as well as coaching and
support on the back end, so that organizations and groups can implement
negotiation processes and incentives that enable more effective
negotiations and results.